ABOUT US

• Collaboration and Mutual Benefit: Our primary purpose is to bring together industry stakeholders for their mutual and public benefit. We aim to foster cooperation and collective success.
• Education, Research, and Quality: We are committed to sponsoring educational and public relations efforts to enhance public understanding of the industry. Additionally, we promote and engage in research valuable to all members and the production of high-quality marketable trees.
• Market Development and Support: We string to develop and expand the market for trees grown in the Pacific Northwest. We are dedicated to improving marketing procedures and providing support at both the wholesale and retail levels.
• Environmental Stewardship and Unity: We are dedicated to practicing environmental stewardship in our operations. Our overarching goal is to provide a unified force that strengthens the Pacific Northwest Tree industry.

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HISTORY

Celebrating old-fashioned traditions and environmentally sustainable practices, amongst growers, throughout Oregon and Washington.

The tradition of displaying a decorated evergreen in celebration of Christmas dates back hundreds of years. The origin of the tradition is still a subject of debate, but its appearance in America can be traced back to the arrival of German immigrants in the late 1700s. Though hard to imagine now, Christmas trees were not a central part of holiday celebrations in most homes until the mid-1800s. Initially, Americans cut their own trees from local forests, but as more people flocked to larger cities, there was a need for a central Christmas tree market. Forested areas adjacent to urban areas were quickly picked clean of all Christmas-suitable firs, and it was clear that a new tree farming system was in order.

The Pacific Northwest is a natural choice for Christmas tree farming. The soil, while perfect for growing healthy firs, won't support many other crops. The damp, cool winters and shorter, mild summers provide ideal growing conditions, and the region's proximity to major thoroughfares and waterways makes transporting the trees simple. As more farms were established in the area, The Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association was born. Since 1955, it has served as a forum for growers to share information, practice environmental stewardship and conduct outreach to the public to educate them about the industry. Farms represented in the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association range in size from five to 10,000 acres, and many are family-owned and operated. The association also helps farmers keep abreast of the latest technology and growing technique in the industry. Now consisting of more than 1,075 farms, the association works to maintain the Pacific Northwest's reputation as one of the country's largest Christmas tree producers while ensuring that safe, sustainable farming practices are being observed.

FACTS AT-A-GLANCE

Number of Growers in the Pacific Northwest

TREE HARVEST (2017)

BY ACRES
Oregon – 45,000 
Washington – 8,000 
Nationally – 295,000 

BY TREES
Oregon – 4.7 million 
Canada – 1.9 million  (2016-based on exports)
Washington  – 535,000 
California – 138,800 
Idaho – 31,800 

PRODUCTION OF TREES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (2017) 

SALES VALUE IN MILLIONS
Oregon – $120.6 
Washington – $15.7 
Idaho – not available
California – $4.8 
Canada – $43.1 (2016)

COUNTIES WITH GREATEST PRODUCTION IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

OREGON | Benton, Clackamas, Marion, Polk, Yamhill and Linn
WASHINGTON | Kitsap, Lewis, Mason and Thurston

AVERAGE YEARS TO PRODUCE A 6-FOOT TREE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Douglas-fir – 7 years
Grand fir – 8 years
Noble fir – 9 years
Concolor fir – 12 years

EXPORT OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREES

MAJOR DESTINATIONS 
California – 45%
Other Western – 10% (MT, ID, WY, NV, UT, AZ, NM, CO, AK, HI)
Gulf States – 9% (OK, TX, AR, LA, TN, MS, AL)
Mexico – 16% (23% of all Oregon Douglas-fir are shipped to Mexico)
Atlantic States – 4% (MD, DE, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL)

• Some 92 percent of all Pacific Northwest Christmas trees are exported out of the region

• California is the Pacific Northwest's largest market

• Overseas and foreign markets include: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico

NOTE: Because it is impossible to compile exact statistics on harvest, acreage, sales and ranking of production by states, all figures are estimates.
* Based on consumer surveys commissioned by the National Christmas Tree Association.