It’s Christmas Tree Month!

It’s officially Christmas Tree Month in Michigan. The proclamation honors the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the Christmas tree industry in the state.

MDARD Director Gary McDowell shared, “Real Michigan Christmas trees are an important tradition for many families, whether you visit a Christmas tree farm or a retail tree lot. You not only get a fresh, fragrant, beautiful tree as the centerpiece of your holiday decorations, but at many locations you also get to experience a variety of activities like hayrides or sleigh rides, petting farms, visits with Santa and more.”

Michigan is a top producer of Christmas trees, ranking third in the nation. Around 2 million fresh trees with a value of up to $40 million are produced each year on more than 560 tree farms in the state. Michigan has the largest variety of species, with nine kinds of trees on the wholesale market.

Natural trees have a positive environmental impact as they can grow where other crops can’t. They also provide cover for animals, create oxygen, and can be recycled into wood chips after use.

A directory of tree farms can be found at MichiganFarmFun.com .

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland