New York Ag Connection - New Yorkers Encouraged to Buy Local Trees This Holiday Season

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New Yorkers Encouraged to Buy Local Trees This Holiday Season
New York Ag Connection - 12/03/2018

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball encouraged New Yorkers to support tree growers across the State and buy local Christmas trees this holiday season. In support of the $8 million Christmas tree industry, the State assists farms statewide to connect with new markets and consumers through various promotional opportunities. This year, local tree farms participating in the State's New York State Grown & Certified program will provide trees to be displayed at the regional Welcome Centers and Taste NY stores across the State. In addition, New York State Grown & Certified trees will be on display at the Empire State Plaza in Albany and at Greenmarkets in New York City.

Ball said, "I'm so proud that New York State is showcasing our State's Christmas tree growers at its Welcome Centers, Taste NY stores, farmers' markets and other State buildings. Our hope is that when people see and smell a beautiful, fresh, locally-grown New York State tree, they'll be encouraged to support one of the many Christmas tree farms in their region."

To promote the purchase of New York-grown trees, Commissioner Ball joined the Rocking Horse Christmas Tree Farm in Onondaga County for a tree cutting. An eight-foot Canaan Fir provided by the farm will be prominently displayed for the holidays at the Central New York Welcome Center at Destiny Mall. Rocking Horse Farm is a proud member of the New York State Grown & Certified program.

New York State Grown & Certified promotes New York's agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards. For Christmas tree farms, participants are certified for growing local trees and for participating in the State Soil and Water Conservation District's Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) plan.

Local trees and handmade local wreaths will also be on display at the following Taste NY locations:

- Southern Tier Welcome Center

- Finger Lakes Welcome Center

- Capital Region Welcome Center

- Hudson Valley/Catskills Welcome Center

- North Country Welcome Center

- New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center

- Taste NY at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County

- Taste NY Market at Todd Hill

The Welcome Center and Taste NY locations will also feature a wide variety of gifts and gift baskets filled with local products made and produced by New York farms and food and beverage producers.

Four beautiful New York State Grown & Certified Frasier Fir trees from Zema's Farm in Stephentown, Rensselaer County are on display at the Empire State Plaza Concourse in Albany. The New York State Holiday Tree lighting and fireworks was held Sunday at the Empire State Plaza. This free family fun event included festive music, horse and carriage rides on the Plaza along with Santa and lots of kid's activities on the concourse. The Taste NY Holiday Market began at 11 a.m. in the New York State Museum. Figure skating demonstrations and free skating were available at the Plaza ice rink.

In addition to the local trees on display at the Welcome Centers and at the Empire State Plaza Concourse, a New York State Grown & Certified tree, provided by Domes Tree Farm in Wyoming County, will shine brightly at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building Plaza in Harlem during an annual holiday celebration. The event will feature live family-friendly entertainment, including music, and a visit from Santa.

New York State Grown & Certified trees will also be on display at Greenmarkets in New York City.

Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito said, "The effort to showcase locally grown trees is a wonderful holiday extension of Governor Cuomo's efforts to promote New York State-grown products and bring upstate agricultural goods to downstate markets. It is a welcome addition to the festive atmosphere of the season."

With more than 300,000 New York-grown trees sold by 875 farms in Upstate New York, the State ranks fourth in the U.S. in the number of farms selling Christmas trees. The industry supports an economic impact of $8 million in New York State, according to the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York.

To find the New York-grown Christmas tree vendor nearest to you, visit the NYs Grown & Certified site at certified.ny.gov and the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York website at www.christmastreesny.org/SearchFarm.php.

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