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Gov. McCrory Applauds NC Christmas Tree Industry at State Capitol Tree Presentation

mccrory-tree

Governor Pat McCrory applauded North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry today as he received the official trees and wreaths for the State Capitol during a ceremony.

“North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry is a major part of our state’s diverse agriculture industry and overall economy,” Governor McCrory said. “I am proud these trees will be displayed in our State Capitol as a reminder of North Carolina’s leading role in producing Christmas trees.”

The governor was joined by members of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association as he welcomed this year’s winners of the association’s contests for the State Capitol trees and wreaths. This year, the trees are provided by Lynn Smith from Merlyn Farms in Banner Elk, N.C. Smith is the 2016 Grand Champion winner of the annual North Carolina Christmas Tree Association Tree Contest and will compete in the 2018 National Christmas Tree Association Tree & Wreath Contest for a chance to be named “Best in the Nation” and provide the Official White House Christmas Tree.

The wreaths are provided by Peak Farms in Jefferson, N.C. owned by Rusty and Beau Estes. They are the Grand Champion wreath winners of the annual North Carolina Christmas Tree Association Wreath Contest. Members of the Estes family were on hand to present Governor McCrory with several wreaths that will decorate the State Capitol.

North Carolina Christmas tree growers produce an estimated 37 million trees grown on 32,000 acres. More than four million trees are harvested annually. North Carolina produces over 20 percent of the real Christmas trees grown in the U.S.

The top five Christmas tree-producing counties in North Carolina are Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Watauga and Jackson.

North Carolina Fraser Firs have been judged Grand Champions through the National Christmas Tree Association and chosen for the White House 12 times – more than any other state.