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The North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas Tree North Carolina's Christmas tree production now
ranks second in the nation in number of trees harvested. There are
an estimated 1,600 Christmas tree growers in western North Carolina,
producing approximately 50 million Fraser Fir Christmas trees on
25,000 acres of land. Most Christmas tree farms in the western part of
the state are family owned and operated. Several growers also
produce wreaths and roping. Trees are shipped throughout the nation
as well as into Mexico and Europe. The #1 species grown in western North Carolina is
the Fraser fir. Most of the tree plantations in western North
Carolina are above 3,000 feet in elevation. Getting a Christmas tree to the point that it can
be shipped for holiday enjoyment is a long process. Most 6 - 7 foot
Christmas trees on a farm have been visited over 160 times in the
course of planting, fertilizing, shearing, controlling weeds,
spraying for insects, and harvesting. Much of this work is done by
hand.
North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Facts North Carolina produces over 19% of the real
Christmas trees sold in the U.S. The North Carolina Fraser fir Christmas tree is
the most popular Christmas tree in North America and is shipped into
every state in the country as well as the Caribbean Islands, Canada,
Mexico, Bermuda, Japan and other points all over the world. The North Carolina Fraser fir has been judged the
Nation's best in a contest sponsored by the National Christmas Tree
Association and has been chosen for the official White House
Christmas tree 10 times (more than any other species)....1971, 1973,
1982, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2005 and 2006 Fraser fir is grown in the far Western North
Carolina counties which include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe,
Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Swain,
Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey. The North Carolina Fraser fir has a deep green
color, soft needles, good needle retention, long-lasting aroma, and
strong branches for holding heavy ornaments. |