Maine Christmas Trees for the Holidays! Maine Tree Growers Participate in Trees For Troops Program

12/03/2015 02:04 PM EST

*Governor Paul R. LePage commends Maine Christmas tree growers for sending trees to armed forces members and their families*

AUGUSTA - Governor Paul R. LePage and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry are urging consumers to support local businesses by buying Maine Christmas trees this holiday season. Christmas tree buying season is in full swing and Maine Christmas tree growers are doing their part to support a national program to provide trees to armed forces members and their families as part of the national Trees for Troops effort.

"The Christmas season is an important time to give thanks for the many blessings we are given and show appreciation for the sacrifices that others make on behalf of our country," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Nothing says Maine more than a majestic, locally grown fir tree that graces a family living room. Thanks to the generosity of Maine Christmas tree growers, men and women of our armed forces will receive trees as part of the national Trees for Troops program. I commend Maine Christmas tree growers for doing their part to show appreciation for armed services members and their families and for all they do to help keep us safe."

 

 Commissioner Walt Whitcomb stressed the importance of Maine's forest industry and resources available to consumers seeking Maine Christmas trees.

"Maine's forest industry accounts for $8 billion in economic activity, with direct and indirect employment of 38,789 workers," said Whitcomb. "Maine tree growers grow a product that is symbolic of that industry and adorns family living rooms locally and beyond our borders. You can support the Maine economy by buying a Maine Christmas tree."

Maine Christmas Tree Association representative Jim Corliss highlighted the efforts of Maine growers to support the Trees for Troops effort. "Just this morning, we loaded 300 trees onto a FedEx Freight trailer bound for the U.S. Marine Corps base in Cherry Point, North Carolina," said Corliss. "This is part of a 10-year effort to provide free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States armed forces members in all branches of the military and their families, through donations, sponsorships, grants and the work of many volunteers."

Maine Christmas Tree Association:

The Maine Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) is a non-profit organization comprised of family farms that produce real Christmas trees and wreath products for retail, wholesale, mail order, or choose'n cut during the Christmas season. Producers may specialize or offer a combination of mail order, retail, choose'n cut or wholesale production of tree and wreath products.

The purpose of MCTA since it was incorporated in 1962 has been to promote real Christmas trees and share information about fresh Maine Christmas trees and wreath products with its members. This information includes the latest techniques in growing quality trees and wreath products to the care and recycling of Christmas trees.

Tree Selection and Care Tips: http://www.mainechristmastree.com/tree_information.cfm

Buying Resources: http://www.mainechristmastree.com/products.cfm

Trees for Troops:

Trees for Troops, a program of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, provides free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States armed forces members in all branches of the military and their families, through donations, sponsorships, grants and the work of many volunteers.

Christmas Tree growers have been providing free trees for military families for years. In 2005, FedEx contacted the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree Association, and wanted to be involved in the foundation's mission. Together the two organizations expanded the idea of providing Christmas Trees to military families, and Trees for Troops was born.

Since 2005, more than 157,000 free, farm-grown Christmas Trees have been provided to troops and military families in the United States and overseas through Trees for Troops. Thousands of trees are donated by American farm families and the public, and FedEx delivers these trees to more than 60 military bases in the U.S. and overseas. FedEx has logged more than 573,000 ground miles for the Trees for Troops program.