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Yes, Virginia, Florida does have a Christmas Tree industry
It’ll never rival tourism, citrus or even biotechnology as a major source of income in the state, but Florida does have a Christmas Tree industry. “There may be 100 or so growers,” says Terrence McElroy of the Florida Department of Agriculture. “It’s not nearly as big as the big Christmas Tree states like North Carolina.” “A lot of guys don’t do it full-time,” McElroy says. ”Maybe they grow tomatoes, peppers, watermelon or cucumbers as their main crops, and they set aside several acres to grow pine trees.” In fact, Florida growers will sell about 20,000 of the 30 million or Christmas trees Americans will buy this year. At the national median price of about $40 for a tree, that comes to less than $1 million for the industry as a whole. “A lot of guys don’t do it full-time,” McElroy says. ”Maybe they grow tomatoes, peppers, watermelon or cucumbers as their main crops, and they set aside several acres to grow pine trees.” According to the Florida Christmas Tree Association, five varieties are grown in the state: Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress and Sand Pine. Live Leyland Cypress trees are available at nurseries in South Florida. Most Florida-grown trees remain in Florida — including one in the governor’s office and one in agriculture commissioner’s office that the Christmas Tree Association donates each year. Most farms are scattered across Florida’s northern tier, stretching down into Central Florida. The closest to South Florida is Watson’s Christmas Tree Farm Choose and Cut in Oak Hill, near the Volusia-Brevard county line.   Christmas trees by the numbers: Number sold: 32.8 million Source: National Christmas Tree Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Acres and number of farms based on 2002 Ag survey by the USDA. Top tree producing states: 1. Oregon: 6.5 million Florida trees Red cedar Where trees are bought Choose and harvest farm: 22 percent    |