Chatham Township was a center of the greenhouse industry, with over 90 greenhouses and a million rose plants growing within a 5 mile radius. Behre later Rose Farms Corp., owned by Aubrey Nash, and Nash Field and Noe Farm were located on Southern Blvd. Heyl Roses Inc. and Matrisciano and Harrsch greenhouses populated Green Village Rd. Duckham-Peierson later Watchung Rose Corp. was on Shunpike Rd. L.M. Noe and L.A. Noe were on Noe Ave. Neipp later Robert Nauman and Persico ranges were on Lafayette Ave. Lapp and Voight were on River Rd. Many smaller ranges also existed in the township. Most of the larger operations grew roses and sold to wholesalers in the City, while a few grew carnations and assorted flowers. The rose business declined in the 1950's because of rising property taxes and utility costs, and in 1991 the Andean Trade Preference Act, which provided duty-free access to the US Market for Andean flower exporters, accelerated the process, leading to the 1999 closure of Heyl Roses, the last commercial rosehouse in the community and in New Jersey at the time.