“Both the selection and the quality are very, very good," said Troxler. "Cool weather and adequate rainfall have combined to help our growers harvest and handle the freshest trees possible.”

More than 96 percent of North Carolina Christmas trees are Fraser firs, which are grown in the mountains. Farmers in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain grow pines, cedars and other varieties. Troxler said North Carolina’s 2009 Christmas tree harvest should top 5 million trees from more than 1,500 growers.

“Choosing a real Christmas tree can become a great family tradition. Plus, real Christmas trees are renewable. Each tree that is harvested is replaced with one or more new trees. And after the holidays, trees can be recycled as mulch or used as habitat for wildlife and fish.”

Last year a lot of North Carolinians enjoyed a live tree produced right here in the Tar Heel state. The North Carolina was second in the nation in cash receipts from Christmas trees in 2008, with sales of $100 million.