Want a career with great potential in an industry that’s growing? Then take a look at us!

Ornamental Horticulture – also known as the “green” industry – is about improving the quality of your environment through the growing, care and installation of plants. The industry’s work is all around you, from beautiful parks and landscaped properties to proper resource management.

Why should I consider the
Green Industry?

The industry is experiencing tremendous growth and needs skilled, knowledgeable employees to maintain Oregon’s national reputation as the industry leader.

Balance your love of the land and career while working with incredible people, using the newest computer technology and developing leadership and management skills. Don’t want to work behind a desk? You’re bound to find a career that matches your interests and skills. The industry includes nursery grower, retailer, landscape professionals and suppliers to the industry. There’s something for everyone, including:

Sales & Marketing
Graphic Design
Information Systems
Accounting
Human Resource Management
Plant Health Care
Plant Propagation
Production & Inventory Management
Landscape Design
Education & Research

Career opportunities in the Green Industry

GROWER / PRODUCER

Oregon nursery sales reached $844 million last year with the help of thousands of full-time workers. Nurseries and greenhouse growers are the largest sector of the Oregon agriculture industry. Our state is no. 1 in the nation in the production of shade trees, grafted conifers and Christmas trees; and No. 2 among all states in the production of flowering broadleaf evergreens and shrubs. There are a lot of different jobs at small nurseries where you’ll most likely be doing many job functions and at large corporate nurseries where you’ll specialize in a skill.

RETAILER / GARDEN CENTER

Gardening is one of the most popular leisure time activities in the U.S. Quality plants, effective merchandising, knowledgeable staff and the right product mix set a nursery apart from their competitor. Garden Centers are expanding with exciting merchandise displays, and are in need of creative and skilled personnel to help educated consumers.

LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

Talented and educated employees enjoy many career choices in this field, including designing, constructing and maintaining landscapes, creating water features and designing and installing efficient irrigation systems. The demand for skilled employees in the landscape industry has increased tremendously. There are opportunities to own your own business in the field that appeals to you.

OTHER GREEN INDUSTRY RELATED FIELDS

Whether you like to work in an office or not is up to you. The Green Industry offers many career choices that include creativity, being outside or traveling. Working in parks and city plant management, botanical gardens, sales of fertilizers and supplies, golf course turf management, international export and import services and environmental reclamation are all part of the diverse green industry.

Advantages of college training for a professional career in the industry

• Talented and educated employees enjoy promotions and rapid salary growth
• College courses prepare students for the challenges of mid– and upper-level management positions
• For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, college courses teach the important business basics of operating your own nursery or landscape company
• College courses introduce students to leaders in the green industry