2014 National Tree & Wreath Contests - July 25-26

Since 1966, members of the National Christmas Tree Association have presented the official White House Christmas Tree for display in the Blue Room. Each year, NCTA hosts a National Tree Contest, at which growers, industry experts and consumers vote to select the Real Christmas Tree grower who will provide the official White House Christmas Tree. To qualify for the national contest, growers must first win their state or regional competitions, so being named National Grand Champion is quite an achievement. View past Grand Champions.

Join Christmas Tree growers from across the country as they enter their finest trees wreaths in the National Christmas Tree and Wreath Contests, held July 25-26, 2014 at Peterson’s Riverview Nursery in Allegan, Mich. For more details about the contest including official rules and entry forms, visit the Events page.

Learn About the 2013 Consumer Poll Results - July 26, 2014

If you missed the March  webinar on the 2013 Harris Interactive Consumer Poll results, your next chance to hear this important data will be at the Michigan/Mid-America Regional Meeting on July 25-26, 2014. NCTA Executive Director, Rick Dungey will present the Poll results along with some future housing trends impacting the industry. Don't miss out - Register now for the Michigan event!  For details about the Regional Meeting in Michigan and how to register, visit mcta.org/members/meetings

Real Christmas Trees Benefit the Environment
While they're growing, Real Christmas Trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases and emitting fresh oxygen. The farms that grow Christmas Trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas Trees are grown on soil that doesn't support other crops. See what the experts say about Real Christmas Trees.

Real Christmas Trees Are Renewable
Real Christmas Trees are grown on farms just like any other agricultural crop. To ensure a constant supply, Christmas Tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree they harvest. On the other hand, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in Chinese factories. The average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill for centuries after disposal.

Real Christmas Trees Are Recyclable
Real Christmas Trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Learn about the many ways that Real Christmas Trees are being recycled and reused in communities nationwide.

Listen to the broadcast by NPR News's Adam Cole, Tree-Incarnation: Christmas Trees Return To Nature (A Poem)