News » 08.06.2026 - Flower nursery in legal battle with county

The Maltby nursery and farm, Flower World, has been embroiled in legal battles with Snohomish County for the last five years over acquiring permits — and it doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon. At the root of the dispute is whether Flower World is an agricultural or retail operation. For owner John Postema, the answer is clear.

He told The Herald in April, during a visit to Flower World, a county employee told him his business is related, "but is not agriculture."

"Now that offends me," he said in April. "We, for the last 57 years, we have been growing here and we have never done anything else than growing, and now all of a sudden we are a Home Depot."

In April, Postema, requested the public's help in a newsletter posted to Flower World's website, where he claimed the county was "asserting that Flower World is no longer an agricultural operation." He asked community members concerned about Flower World and local farmers to reach out to the county council. In the county's response, it stated that recent developments on the Flower World property did not qualify for an agricultural activity exemption and needed a permit. But the county affirmed nothing in the ensuing court case sought to shut Flower World down or keep it from selling nursery plants and products.

 

Source: www.floraldaily.com

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