Christmas trees ship out


Oregon’s Christmas trees are being inspected and shipped out of the state and even country in anticipation of the holidays.

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Oregon’s Christmas trees are being inspected and shipped out of the state and even country in anticipation of the holidays.

This year’s crop is strong, and so is the market.

“Oregon is still the nation’s top producer of Christmas trees, and we send more than 80 percent of them out of state,” said Gary McAninch, supervisor of ODA’s Nursery and Christmas Tree program. “Our role is to provide the inspection and certification services required by other states and foreign countries.”

Other countries are especially concerned and provide a list of pests and diseases they want to keep out. ODA issues a clean bill of health — a phytosanitary certificate — that, for Christmas tree growers, is their passport to the international marketplace.

The inspection of Christmas trees actually begin well before the holidays approach, McAninch says. ODA inspectors examine fields in late summer and early fall, looking for potential problems that could put a snag in out-of-state shipments.

This year’s crop looks to be good quality, according to ODA inspectors. The relatively cool summer and ample moisture contributed to that quality and will help keep trees bound for faraway destinations fresh longer.

Read more at OregonLive.com.

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