Tennessee nursery industry battered by recession

The recession that slowed construction also has withered Tennessee’s nursery industry.
The economic damage is severe in a business that, for most, is also a way of life on the southern Cumberland Plateau around McMinnville, according to an Associated Press story.
"I've heard figures of sales down from 30 percent to 75 percent," said Tony Graham, immediate past president of the Middle Tennessee Nursery Association. "There are rumors that businesses are going to close. It's had a devastating effect on us."
Graham said while sluggish homebuilding has received attention, that's the lesser of two problems for growers.
"Sure, it's new homes, but it's also commercial building," he said. "It's a twofold situation."
Graham noted commercial buildings require a lot more plants for landscaping.
After one of the typically busiest parts of their year, growers are assessing how they did.
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