Congressman Sanford Bishop Tours Grady County Nursery Operations, Hears Directly from Ornamental Horticulture Specialty Crop Growers

U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop visited Monrovia in Grady County on April 8 for an on-the-ground look at ornamental horticulture and specialty crop production in Georgia’s Second Congressional District.

Organized by the Georgia Green Industry Association in partnership with Monrovia Nursery, the visit brought together growers, suppliers, allied industry representatives, local leaders, and community partners to provide a firsthand look at the scale, importance, opportunities, and challenges of the ornamental horticulture sector. Attendees included representatives from Monrovia, Gainous’ Shade Tree, Wolf Bay Nursery, and Graco Fertilizer Company, along with GGIA Chairwoman Melissa Riley, ANR Extension Agent Cale Cloud, Georgia Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator Ben Parker, city and county leaders, local agricultural lending and crop insurance representatives, and members of Congressman Bishop’s district team. Flowerwood Nursery and Lake Tree Growers, two other important nursery operations in the area, had also planned to attend but were unable to join due to last-minute conflicts.

The group gathered at the loading docks so Congressman Bishop could see the size, speed, and scale of nursery operations in real time. That setting helped illustrate not only the physical scope of the industry, but also how quickly products move and how many people, inputs, and decisions are involved in keeping operations running.

The visit focused on the issues most directly affecting ornamental horticulture and specialty crop businesses. Monrovia’s Nursery Coach Scott Andrews spoke about labor and the importance of workable agricultural labor policy. Lee Gainous, owner of Gainous’ Shade Trees, discussed disaster relief and the real-world impact of hurricane-related insurance riders and recovery challenges. Ken LeGette of Graco Fertilizer Company highlighted fertilizer and fuel prices and the pressure those costs place on growers and suppliers. ANR Extension Agent Cale Cloud shared concerns about emerging pest pressures like the two-spotted cotton leafhopper, or cotton jassid, emphasizing how these issues can directly affect productivity and profitability. GGIA Executive Director Lanie Riner tied those concerns back to federal policy, highlighting the importance of Farm Bill support for ornamental horticulture and specialty crop growers, including research, pest and disease preparedness, risk management tools, and disaster assistance.

The discussion also reflected the broader importance of agriculture to rural communities. Cairo City Manager Booker Gainor spoke briefly about rural growth, local funding needs, and how closely the strength of the agricultural economy is tied to the strength and stability of the surrounding community.

Grady County provided a strong example of the district’s ornamental horticulture economy. According to 2024 farm gate data, ornamental horticulture generated $53.4 million in farm gate value in Grady County, accounting for about 23.1% of total county farm gate value. The visit underscored just how important this sector is not only to Grady County, but to the broader specialty crop economy of Georgia’s Second Congressional District.

For GGIA, the visit was a meaningful opportunity to connect policy with people and to help put real-world context around the numbers.

“Opportunities like this matter because they allow policymakers to hear directly from the people living these issues every day,” said GGIA Executive Director Lanie Riner. “When growers can connect their own experiences to federal policy, it creates a much clearer understanding of what is at stake for ornamental horticulture and specialty crop production across Georgia’s Second Congressional District.”

The tour highlighted not only the economic importance of ornamental horticulture in Grady County and across the district, but also the real challenges and responsibilities carried by the people who keep this industry moving.