By Andi Anderson
Michigan is celebrating December as Christmas Tree Month, a proclamation made by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to recognize the economic, environmental and cultural value of the state’s Christmas tree industry.
To commemorate the start of the month, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) visited Peacock Road Family Farm in Laingsburg.
MDARD Director Tim Boring emphasized the importance of real Christmas trees and the experiences connected to them, stating, “Real Michigan Christmas trees are a holiday 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 celebrations, but at many locations you also get to experience activities like hayrides or sleigh rides, petting farms, visits with Santa and more. We continue to see that Michiganders are interested in connecting directly with agriculture, and establishments like Peacock Road Family Farm are really the fabric of our state culture this time of year.”
Michigan’s Christmas tree industry involves hundreds of family farmers, wholesalers, processors and retailers who work together to supply high-quality trees nationwide.
Michigan ranks third in the U.S. for Christmas trees harvested, providing about two million trees each year with an annual value exceeding $45 million. More than 500 farms grow trees on roughly 33,000 acres, ranging from large wholesale farms to small choose-and-cut operations.
Amy Start, Executive Director of MCTA, highlighted the wider impact of the industry, stating, “Michigan’s Christmas tree industry delivers more than just holiday cheer. It generates jobs, supports environmental sustainability, and provides joy to millions of families during the holiday season. It means a lot to know Gov. Whitmer supports our industry and celebrates our role as a memory maker for Michiganders.”
Michigan grows more tree varieties than any other state at the wholesale level, including Fraser fir, Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Colorado blue spruce, Concolor fir and Canaan fir. The industry also generates an additional $5 million through wreaths, boughs, garlands and other greenery.
Peacock Road Family Farm General Manager Christian Voorheis shared the joy of the season, saying, “The holidays are always a magical time at Peacock Road Family Farm, and we’re excited to welcome families back to the farm this Christmas season. You can take a wagon ride out to the field to cut your own tree or choose from our pre-cut lot and visit Santa in his cabin, roast marshmallows at a firepit, sip cocoa, buy lunch or a snack, visit our Christmas store, and leave with a beautiful Christmas tree, a warm heart and lasting holiday memories.”
Real Christmas trees also support environmental health by growing on marginal land, providing wildlife habitat, producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. They are renewable and fully recyclable. Most take six to eight years to mature, and growers plant three new trees for every one harvested.
Residents can find local farms, holiday activities and recycling options through the MCTA website, Michigan Agritourism, and the state’s recycling directory.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-brzozowska
Categories: Michigan, Rural Lifestyle