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News
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contacts:
Mary Jordan, 617-626-1750 – Mary.Jordan@state.ma.us
Richard Leblanc, 617-626-1759 –
Richard.Leblanc@state.ma.us
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
State Agriculture Commissioner Cuts
Ceremonial First Tree at Highfields Plantation, Grafton
The Massachusetts Christmas tree season
kicked off when state Commissioner of Agricultural Resources Douglas P.
Gillespie cut the ceremonial first Christmas tree today at 10:30 am at
Highfields Plantation, in Grafton, Mass. The Norway Spruce tree will be donated
to the Brigham Hill Community Barn in Grafton.
Farm owners Joe and Judy Meichelbeck hosted the event and
spoke about how local Christmas tree farmers have tailored their operations to
meet the steadily growing demand of customers looking not only to purchase a
tree, but also for the experience of visiting a tree farm and cutting their own
tree. The Meichelbeck’s offered hot
cider and a tour of the farm. “We get folks from all over to come out with
their families to cut their tree. We’ve had folks from the Cape to Salem, along
with our local repeat customers,” stated Judy. “Each year we plant anywhere
from 1000 – 3000 saplings, which many are new varieties. Many folks favor the
Frasers and Balsams, along with Concolor being requested more,” stated
Joe.
Highfields Plantation offers 7 varieties of trees
including Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Concolor and White Pine. They range in size from 4 feet to 15
feet. Visitors will find a log cabin
filled with tree ornaments, sturdy tree stands, fresh wreaths, and hot cocoa
and apple cider. Each tree is tagged
with information on how to care for a “fresh cut” tree, and then wrapped in
plastic netting for easy handling.
A list of Massachusetts
Christmas Tree farms can be found at, www.Christmas-Trees.org
Massachusetts Christmas tree facts:
- There are over 350 Massachusetts
Christmas Tree farms in Massachusetts and many offer “Choose and
Cut.” Massachusetts Christmas Tree
farms range all across the state from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.
- There are approximately 5000 acres in
Massachusetts devoted to Christmas Tree production.
- Massachusetts Christmas Tree farms sell
more than $2 million worth of Christmas trees each year.
- Worcester County ranks first in the
State for the number of Christmas Tree farms - 69 farms grossing over
$500,000 in annual sales.
- Massachusetts ranks 16th in
the nation in annual Christmas Tree harvesting.
- Most popular varieties of Massachusetts
Christmas Trees include: Balsam Fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Noble Fir,
Scotch Pine and White Pine.
- The
retail price of a premium Massachusetts Christmas Tree will range from $30
to $100 with an average price of $35 to $50.
- Most Christmas Trees grown in
Massachusetts are raised from 7 to 10 years before they are harvested.
- Most
Christmas Tree Farms are able to plant about 1500 saplings per acre.
- Choosing
a Massachusetts Christmas Tree helps keep open space in Massachusetts. By
selecting a mature tree for your holiday season, you are opening areas for
new trees to be planted in the spring. This will provide even more oxygen
and clean air for all of us. Today nearly all Christmas trees are produced
as a farm crop which provides employment, the preservation of open space, and
homes for wildlife.
- Many Christmas Tree Farms also produce a
variety of holiday wreaths and roping from greenery on the farm to
generate further revenue.
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