A Christmas tree starts out as a tiny seed in a nursery where it is carefully tended to until it is ready to transplant at a tree farm.  It can take from 5 to 15 years to produce a quality Christmas tree.  Growers and researchers in the Pacific Northwest are continually looking for ways to produce more beautiful and durable Christmas trees.

Keeping trees fresh at the time of harvest is the number one priority for Christmas tree growers.  Balers wrap the tree snuggly to protect it from being damaged during shipping.  Most trees will spend just a few days traveling by train, truck, or ship to their final destination.

A fresh cut should be made at the base of your Christmas tree so water can be absorbed.  Once cut, it takes only a few minutes for sap to reseal the tree.  For a fresh, fragrant Christmas tree, check the water level each day.

Modern Harvest

Using helicopters to harvest Christmas trees is standard procedure for most growers in the wet and rugged Pacific Northwest.  It's a way to get trees out of the field quickly and cleanly.  The bottom line is to ensure a fresh Christmas tree for families throughout the United States and many countries around the world.