Source: Blog – Alliance for American Manufacturing
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Spring has sprung, and there are lots of Made In America options for an essential lawn care tool.
We know that spring is in full swing when our senses signal to us that the long, dreary days of winter have passed.
We see the sun shining, flowers blooming, trees blossoming, hear birds chirping and feel the impending warmth. Our olfactory senses rebound with a refreshing spring rainfall that helps our flora and fauna spring back to life. Grass turns from brown to green, and a most pleasant reminder that winter is gone is the smell of fresh cut grass.
If you haven’t done so already, this weekend may be the perfect time to venture outside to give your lawn a first cut. And you may find that your home lawnmower has seen better days.
If you find you need a new mower or just want to update your old tool, we’ve got a list of lawnmowers that are made in America.
Most lawnmowers are made overseas or have parts sourced entirely from overseas. But you can still find a few that are made in the USA – or mostly made in the USA.
So, what does “made in the USA” actually mean?
The term made in the USA is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and applies to products that have been “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. For example, a lawnmower with an engine assembled in the USA but with imported parts would not be considered “made in the USA.” For a lawnmower to qualify as “made in the USA,” all significant parts and processing must be of U.S. origin.
It is also important to look for what materials the mower is made from and where these products are produced. Look for lawn mowers with high-quality American steel, aluminum, and other metals.
But enough talk! The grass grows long. Here is a short list to guide you when searching for a new, made in America lawnmower.
Bad Boy Mowers
Bad Boy Mowers began manufacturing both walk-behind and sit-down mowers in 2002. The Batesville, Arkansas company was born in a garage, and its first manufactured mower was named Product of the Year at the Lawn and Garden Expo in 2002.
Bad Boy was the first brand to market zero-turn mowers for homeowners. A zero-turn mower is a power mower that turns in place so operators do not have push and pull on a turn. The mower makes a 180 degree turn on its own volition, which cuts down on the physical work required in mowing. This revolutionized the lawnmower industry.
Bad Boy offers several different models of walk-behind, self-propelled mowers which include its Renegade, Revolt, and Rebel lines that come with large decks. These models are affordable and handy for the home user who is trying to make his lawn look like the fairways at Augusta National golf course.
Bad Boy Mowers sponsors the annual college football Pinstripe Bowl at New York’s Yankee Stadium and partners with the Yankees and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Visit www.badboycountry.com
Grasshopper
Grasshopper mowers are made in Moundridge, Kansas by Moridge Manufacturing, Inc. Grasshopper Mowers have been manufactured as a division of Moridge since 1970. They are built in America by American workers and enjoy storied success in the mower industry.
At its 350,000 square-foot factory, every aspect of a Grasshopper mower is designed, engineered, manufactured, assembled, and tested. The brand features stand-on and sit-down mowers, with either gas or diesel engines.
Grasshopper was honored in 2017 by displaying its mowers at the White House during the “Made in America” product showcase day. Its mowers are sold through a network of nearly 1,000 independent distributors and dealers in all 50 states.
Visit www.grasshoppermowers.com
McLane Mowers
McLane Mowers claims to have sold more lawn mowers online than any other company in the world. Its walk-behind, self-propelled mowers have been manufactured in Bell Gardens, Calif. since 1946.
McLane mowers are run by gas engines and if you have a smaller area or just want to cut the old-fashioned way, the company offers push mowers as well as those powered by gas. They are known for their precise cutting and durability, so they are on the expensive side.
Visit www.mclanelawnmowers.com
Toro
A familiar name in the lawncare industry, Toro makes some of its mowers at its factory in Bloomington, Minnesota. The company bills itself as the number one walk-mower brand and offers self-propelled, push, gas, and electric cutters.
Some Toro lawnmowers are built at other locations throughout North America, but the company’s Titan Series is produced at its Minnesota plant. The crew at Augusta National golf course uses Toro mowers to keep the home of the Masters looking so finely well-trimmed.
Visit www.toro.com
Cub Cadet
Since 1961, Cub Cadet lawn and garden equipment has been built in America at its manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The company offers self-propelled and push mowers with decks up to 33 inches.
Many Cub Cadet mowers are manufactured or assembled in the U.S. but many of its mower parts of produced globally.
Visit www.cubcadet.com
Most of these America-made-lawnmowers are available online through company websites and are also sold at certified company dealerships. Some brands make cheaper versions to be sold in big box stores to compete side-by-side with the foreign products. Now that you’re informed, you can shop responsibly and buy American.
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