Some of Our Major Achievements:

GGIA has made numerous contributions to promote the welfare and growth of the green industry. Our association worked to ensure that horticulture is defined in the Georgia code as "agriculture." We led the charge on regulatory efforts to ensure consistency and quality control in growing media. We were instrumental in creating and implementing the 2010 Water Stewardship Act, which protects the industry in times of drought—and more. We pushed to safeguard that agricultural inputs, like propane, were not double taxed when being used to produce crops. We worked to secure GATE sales tax exemption for crop inputs like soils, plastics, and plugs. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were victorious in securing our industry's essential designation state-wide for every industry sector, thus keeping our industry up and going while the rest of the world shut down. Most recently, we worked to ensure that every grower,  rural or urban, maintains the freedom to farm without the constant threat of nuisance lawsuits from a growing population that does not understand agricultural practices.

Why It Matters:

Ornamental Horticulture is a leading agriculture segment that remains the state's primary economic engine. Georgia's green industry accounts for $9.97 billion in annual economic impact and employs over 104,000 Georgians. With members from all areas of the industry in all corners of the state, you can rest assured that we are looking out for your interests and have the right connections to keep a finger on the pulse of the issues that can impact your business. Our strength as an organization is derived from that unity. And that unity makes finding a colleague, a customer, or a supplier that much easier among your fellow members.

Who We Are:

Through our advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, legislative monitoring, certification exams, trade shows, and conferences for the horticulture-related industries in the state, the GGIA is deeply rooted in the industry. GGIA is composed of six divisions that provide representation to the entire industry. Each division is equally represented on our board of directors, ensuring that each industry sector directly influences our policies and initiatives. Our members include landscape professionals, irrigation contractors, wholesale nursery growers, retail garden centers, floriculture and greenhouse growers, and companies that provide allied products and services. GGIA serves as the umbrella association for the entire ornamental horticulture industry, and our membership reflects the rich diversity of the industry in Georgia. 

Brief Origin & History:

The Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) is the result of work that began long ago at Fruitland Nursery in Augusta, Georgia. When you marvel at the beauty of the Augusta National, remember that it was a nursery first! In 1937, the Georgia Nurserymen's Association was formed from the Georgia Horticultural Society, which began on the grounds of Fruitland Nursery. We trace our history all the way back to P.J. and Louis Berchmans. From 1937 until 1990, the Georgia Nurserymen's Association served the green industry in Georgia. With the rapid growth of the landscape industry in the late 1970s and 1980s, there was a need to serve that industry, so the Georgia Association of Landscape Professionals was born. In 1990, the two groups decided to merge and form the Georgia Green Industry Association. Bill Craven became the first Chairman, and GGIA officially became a corporation in Georgia on December 11, 1990. The association then merged again with the Georgia Flower Growers Association in 2005 and the Georgia Irrigation Association in 2009. We continue to grow for the betterment of the industry's future. GGIA serves as the umbrella association for the entire ornamental horticulture industry, and our membership reflects the rich diversity of the industry in Georgia. We continue to grow for the betterment of the industry's future.