Melinda Knuth, Ph.D.
Dr. Knuth’s research priorities are on consumer and market research experience by focusing on the interface between people and plants, helping the horticulture industry understand consumer preferences, perceptions, and motivations. Historically, Dr. Knuth has evaluated trade flows of horticulture products in the United States, estimating the economic impact of the North Carolina and United States green industries, assessed the supply chain in the cut flower industry, and estimated consumer acceptance of retail messaging.
She currently is an Assistant Professor in Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. Dr. Knuth teaches Greenhouse Management, Floriculture Production, Horticulture Business Development, and Horticulture Marketing. Dr. Knuth received her PhD from Texas A&M University in Horticultural Science with a certificate in Applied Statistics. From there, she was a postdoctoral research associate at University of Florida in the Food & Resource Economics Department. She currently serves as the International Society for Horticulture Science Division Chair of Horticulture for Development. Her poster ‘Exploring Artificial Intelligence Literacy Amount Two-Year Horticulture Students’ was voted Outstanding Poster at the 2025 NCSU Conference of Faculty Excellence. Her article What the Research Says About Millennials and Houseplants was the #10 most read article in Greenhouse Product News in 2022 and serves as a GenNext Lead with AmericanHort. Dr. Knuth received GPN Magazine’s 40 under 40 award in 2021 and a 2017 AmericanHort Scholar.