O’MALLEY FAMILY TO CUT FRESH, LOCAL CHRISTMAS TREE

First Family Encourages Marylanders to Buy Locally Grown Christmas Trees from Local Farms

ANNAPOLIS, MD– Governor Martin O’Malley, First Lady Katie O’Malley and their children will kick off the holiday season by visiting a Maryland family farm to cut their own fresh, local tree for the holidays. The O’Malley family encourages all Marylanders to buy their Christmas tree from a locally owned farm.

According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, of the 200 tree growing farms in Maryland, 168 farms harvested 77,801 trees valued at $2.4 million. There are about 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S., and over 100,000 people employed full or part time in the industry. Tree planting, shearing and mowing can take up to 65 hours a week, 52 weeks a year.

When buying directly from a local farmer, dollars circulate through the local economy four times, strengthening our communities. In addition, the farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide wildlife habitat while creating scenic green belts.

The popular Fraser Fir does not always fare well in Maryland soils, but the Canaan is similarly beautiful and grown more easily and in more locations throughout the state. Other trees varieties grown in Maryland include: Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine, and Blue Spruce.

While they're growing, real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit fresh oxygen, unlike artificial trees which are petroleum-based. When growing in open space, a 3” in diameter Douglas Fir tree can reduce atmospheric carbon by 23 pounds and intercept 102 gallons of storm water runoff per year.