The Battle of Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees Coalition of EnvironmentallyConscious Growers Launches
A recent news conference in Oregon announces the Coalition of Environmentally-Conscious Growers, an organization dedicated to environmentally-sound growing practices and consumer education.
Artificial Christmas trees are manufactured in China and over the years, have affected the sale of real live trees in the United States. Many of these fake trees have been found to contain lead, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and in some instances, insects and are not environmentally-friendly.
However, real trees are making a comeback. The Coalition of Environmentally-Conscious Growers is an organization dedicated to environmentally-sound growing practices and consumer education.
Holiday Tree Farms, Inc., of Corvallis, Oregon and Yule Tree Farms, of Canby, Oregon formed this alliance to bring about change in Christmas tree grower industry.
Along with the creation of the Coalition is the inception of a Grower's Certification that will be audited by independent auditors. The first of its kind, the certification will involve evaluating growers on erosion control/soil conservation, integrated pest management and tributary protection.
"Part of being an environmentally-conscious grower is accepting the responsibility of spreading the knowledge of sustainable growing practices with others in the industry," says Joe Sharp, President of Yule Tree Farms.
"The Coalition serves to educate people that Christmas trees are grown on a farm, like any other crop," says John Schudel, along with brothers Steve and Dave of Holiday Tree Farms; "It is important to dispel the myth that Christmas trees de-forest America."
The Coalition of Environmentally-Conscious Growers will recognize farms that best exemplify sustainable growing practices. Yule Tree and Holiday represent 20% of all the Christmas trees grown in Oregon (the country's # 1 Christmas tree state).
Please click on the link below to view a clip from a recent news conference in Oregon announcing the Coalition of Environmentally-Conscious Growers (If the link does not work, please copy and paste it into your web browser.). Please feel free to contact us at (201) 843-5600 with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=sD2BBsy8yLY