Bill, left, and Case Van Staalduinen pick tulip blooms from their Beaufort County farm in 1983.
Tulips may not be the first crop that comes to mind when you think of N.C. agriculture, but the beautiful flower is part of a significant agricultural sector in our state – floriculture. The sector, consisting of flowers and ornamental plants, contributes more than $207 million to the state’s overall agricultural economy. Flower growers, like the Van Staalduinens, have helped the state become fifth in floriculture production in the nation and a leader in the industry. You can find out more information about North Carolina’s floriculture industry at www.ncflowers.org.