http://sev.prnewswire.com/agriculture/20090226/CL7560026022009-1.html

National Gardening Association poll finds more American households are starting food gardens to "grow their own groceries"

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Findings from the National Gardening Association's (NGA) new survey, The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America, indicate food gardening in the United States is on the rise as 7 million more households plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs or berries in 2009, up 19 percent from 2008. This anticipated increase is nearly double the 10 percent growth in vegetable gardening activity from 2007 to 2008 as more food gardeners emerge this year.

More Americans are recognizing the benefits of growing their own produce, including improved quality, taste and cost savings. In 2008, gardeners spent a total of $2.5 billion to purchase seeds, plants, fertilizer, tools and other gardening supplies to grow their own food. According to NGA estimates, a well-maintained food garden yields a $500 average return per garden when considering a typical gardener's investment and the market price of produce.

The survey findings were announced yesterday at the 5th Annual Garden Writers Teleconference, co-sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and the Garden Writers Association, which discussed recent trends in Americans' gardening behaviors.

Key highlights from The Impact of Home and Community Gardening Survey include:

* 43 million U.S. households plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and berries in 2009, up 19 percent from 36 million households in 2008

* 21 percent of households said they plan to start a food garden in 2009

* 11 percent of households already active in food gardening plan to increase both the amount and variety of vegetables they will grow in 2009; 10 percent also said they will spend more time food gardening this year

"As in previous recessions, we've seen increased participation in and spending on food gardening as people look for ways to economize," explained Bruce Butterfield, research director for the NGA. "That said, these results suggest the interest in food gardening may continue to increase, even after the economy improves."

The economy is believed to be among the leading factors potentially driving Americans away from grocery stores and into their backyards to grow their own fruits and vegetables. However, when asked, only one in three respondents surveyed said they were motivated to grow their own food because of the recession.

Among the other reasons respondents gave as to why their households are growing their own food:

* 58 percent said for better-tasting food

* 54 percent said to save money on food bills

* 51 percent said for better quality food

* 48 percent said to grow food they know is safe

"As more people understand the benefits of growing their own fresh produce, we're finding consumers are hungry for information on how they can start and maintain a successful food garden. And we are well positioned to help." said Craig Humphries, director of consumer research at ScottsMiracle-Gro. "In fact, last year alone we saw about a 66 percent increase in the number of vegetable gardening-related calls into our Scotts Consumer Services line."

A white paper detailing the complete findings of the The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America survey will be available in early March 2009 on the National Gardening Association's Web site, www.gardenresearch.com and on the ScottsMiracle-Gro Web site, www.scottsmiraclegro.com. The survey, conducted in January 2009 by the NGA with sponsorship from ScottsMiracle-Gro, polled a representative sample of over 2,500 households nationwide on their gardening activities last year and future plans.