Two Oregon Tree Farmers are Charter Members to Make an Environmental Difference
The nation’s largest and fifth largest Christmas tree farms are announcing the newly formed Coalition of Environmentally-Conscious Growers, to educate the public on the importance of live trees and promote environmentally-sound growing practices. Holiday Tree Farms, Inc., of Corvallis, Oregon and Yule Tree Farms, of Canby, Oregon formed an alliance to bring about change in Christmas tree grower industry.
Along with the creation of the Coalition is the inception of a Grower’s Certification that will be audited by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The first of its kind, the certification will involve evaluating growers on erosion control/soil conservation, integrated pest management and tributary protection.
“Part of being an environmentally–conscious grower is accepting the responsibility of spreading the knowledge of sustainable growing practices with others in the industry,” says Joe Sharp, President of Yule Tree Farms.
“The Coalition serves to educate people that Christmas trees are grown on a farm, like any other crop,” says John Schudel, along with brothers Steve and Dave of Holiday Tree Farms; “It is important to dispel the myth that Christmas trees de-forest America.”
The Coalition of Environmentally-Conscious Growers will recognize farms that best exemplify sustainable growing practices. Yule Tree and Holiday represent 20% of all the Christmas trees grown in Oregon (the country’s # 1 Christmas tree state).
Established in 1964, Yule Tree Farms is committed to growing the finest Christmas trees. They empower and involve their entire organization to produce trees of the highest quality. Holiday Tree Farms was established in 1955 by the Schudel family, which has a legacy of innovation and accomplishment in timber, agronomy and land management.
Public Relations Contact: Rosica Strategic Public Relations