The thriving New Brunswick Christmas tree sector brings in more than $10 million of annual revenue to the province, creating jobs on a year-round basis, and adding to the number of workers on a seasonal basis.
New Brunswick (PRWEB) October 26, 2014
Demand for Christmas trees is starting to swing into action as the festive season approaches and the Canadian province of New Brunswick is set to be one of the key providers of greenery this year. With production continuing to expand, the New Brunswick Christmas Tree Growers Association is proud to step forward and represent the people and
businesses behind this growth.
The sector is the biggest greenery-exporting locale in Canada and things have already shifted up a gear in preparation for the season, with the drive to meet festive orders well underway.
In New Brunswick alone there are around 350 Christmas tree growers who work to produce up to 500,000 trees every year in order to meet the demand for the festive firs. The vast majority – more than 85 per cent – of the trees produced are exported across the Americas. This thriving sector brings in more than $10 million of annual revenue to the province, creating jobs on a year-round basis, and adding to the number of workers on a seasonal basis.
In addition to the trees, more than 4.5 million Christmas wreaths and garlands were manufactured in New Brunswick in recent years, earning the location the title of the biggest greenery-exporting province in the country. This sector brings in more than $20 million in yearly sales, providing a huge boost to the local economy.
Despite the importance of the sector, it has taken time to organize representation for the workers and businesses. The New Brunswick Christmas Tree Growers Association, headed by Adam Stone, is now stepping up to the challenge in order to act on behalf of all those involved in the growing and marketing of festive trees and related items across the region.
Manager of Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms, a family run business supplying wholesale Christmas trees to retailers across Canada and the US, Mr Stone is himself a recognized authority within the Canadian Christmas tree industry.
Mr Stone outlined his commitment to the industry, saying: “We try our best to provide a good product to our customers and to build a long term partnership. We are a young family and want to be in the business for a long time.
“The New Brunswick Christmas Tree Growers Association is also a member of the Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association and US National Christmas Tree Association, ensuring its reach can be felt both locally and nationally.
“We aim to work towards building new markets and reaching outside the traditional markets of the United States.”
The work undertaken by Mr Stone and the association is helping to continue the growth of the local industry and, crucially, will provide representation for these suppliers and growers at a Governmental level, in addition to increasing the promotion of market information and providing production support.
Context:
The tradition of decorating fir trees to celebrate Christmas might be going strong today, but it originally dates back to the 7th Century and the tree remains one of the most iconic images of the festive season.
Legend has it that an English monk travelled to Germany to preach the word of the Lord and used the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity. People started to refer to firs as 'God's trees', and decorating and displaying them became a recognized symbol of Christianity. Christmas wreaths are said to hail from pre-Christian Germanic people who would gather evergreen branches and set them on fire as a sign of hope for the coming light of springtime.
Over the years, the popularity of Christmas trees and wreathes has resulted in the creation of booming economic sectors, with key geographical areas such as New Brunswick benefiting from work in two main sectors: Christmas tree production; and greenery, such as wreaths.