Smith Gardens sells majority stake to Hoffmann Family of Companies

Smith Gardens, Inc. sold a majority interest to Hoffmann Family of Companies (HF Companies) in late January 2026. The transaction includes Bellingham-based Smith Gardens facility in the 1200 block of Marine Drive and its propagation division, Pacific Plug & Liner, located in California.

Smith Gardens was founded in 1901. As of 2025, the company was ranked 12 on the Greenhouse Grower Top 100 Growers list. The company operates 5 growing facilities across Washington, Oregon, and California, totaling 4,000,000 square feet of greenhouse space and 100 acres of outdoor production. It employs 1,200 people.

HF Companies is a family-owned private equity firm that has expanded its agricultural portfolio since 2020:

• 2020: Acquired herb farm World Wide Farms in Illinois
• 2021: Purchased a garden center and tree farm in Missouri
• 2022: Acquired a 75% stake in American Farms in Florida
• 2025: Acquired a controlling stake in Bay Area Herbs & Specialties in February 2025 and N.G. Heimos Greenhouses in June 2025
• 2026: Acquired a majority interest in Smith Gardens

The HF Companies portfolio includes Meyer Farms and more than 5,000 acres of agricultural land across Florida, Illinois, Missouri, California, and Mexico.

Current owners Eric Smith and Mark Smith retain partial ownership of Smith Gardens and continue to lead the company as CEO and Chief Planning Officer, respectively.