Governor Gianforte, Director Streit Celebrate Success of Value-Added Ag Operation

Governor Gianforte, Director Streit Celebrate Success of Value-Added Ag Operation

Visit Visser Greenhouses in Manhattan

• April 30 2025

MANHATTAN, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today joined Montana Department of Agriculture Director Jillian Streit for a tour of Visser Greenhouses, a family-owned nursery that has been supplying Montana retailers with bedding plants for generations.

"Montana businesses like Visser Greenhouses show the impact that family-run operations and value-added agriculture has on our communities, our economy, and the next generation of Montana families," Governor Gianforte said. "It's exciting to see this generational family business grow, expand, and continue its legacy of excellence here in the Gallatin Valley."

Gov. Gianforte (right) talking with Don Visser (left) at Visser Greenhouses in Manhattan

Opening in 1972 and expanding in 1984, Visser Greenhouses has 50 greenhouses with the largest annual and perennial variety list in Montana.

During the visit, Gov. Gianforte, Director Streit, and founder and owner Don Visser toured the nursery. Visser Greenhouses supplies flowers to numerous retailers across the state, with partners in over 30 Montana cities.

"As we work to strengthen and diversify Montana agriculture, family-run operations like Visser Greenhouses set a powerful example of innovation, entrepreneurship, and success," Director Streit said. "Their story is exactly what we mean when we talk about adding value to Montana agriculture."

Producing hundreds of thousands of plants every year, the Visser's primarily service wholesale customers but each May, invite Montanans to visit the location in Manhattan for retail sales. In 2025 alone, the business grew over 25,000 mums and produced nearly 70,000 hanging baskets.

"Now we are open for the month of May, all thanks to the support we get from the community-they're interested in what we do and they're ready to buy. That's fueled our growth and what we are able to do," Jay Visser said, son of Don.

To learn more about Visser Greenhouses, see here.

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