Tis’ the season already for Oregon Christmas tree harvest, Nov. 6

For one of Oregon’s top agricultural commodities, the 2015 holiday season is well underway. Between now and the middle of December, up to 7 million Oregon Christmas trees will be harvested and sold locally, nationally, and internationally. Some of the early trees are already on their way to distant export markets with the bulk of activity just around the corner. It’s a very busy time for inspectors with the Oregon Department of Agriculture who issue the necessary certificates that clear the trees for entry into the marketplace. “We are about a week earlier than last year,” says Gary McAninch, manager of ODA’s Nursery and Christmas Tree Programs. “We have already inspected and issued certificates for trees going to Hawaii and we are just starting to do the same for trees bound for Mexico.” Oregon remains the nation’s top producer of Christmas trees.