Twice as green

Nurseries are where greening starts: you cannot plant a new forest, an orchard or a garden if no plants are available. Italy is an established leader in that sector, especially for what concerns horticulture and ornamental plant production. There are about 27,000 nurseries in Italy, which account for over 100,000 jobs and generate a turnover above 1.5 Billion €/year. Exports account for 900 million €/year, with a net benefit for Italy that exceeds 350 million €/year. Approximately half of that production takes place in Tuscany, where the Province of Pistoia is by far the richest and most active, due to the good soils, the ideal climatic conditions and a long-standing tradition that dates back several generations.