November has just arrived, but Oregon Christmas trees are already on their way to such destinations as Asia, Hawaii, and Mexico. In the next several weeks, Oregon– the nation’s leading producer of Christmas trees– will ship trees to most US states and many countries around the world. It’s a frenzied time of year for growers and Oregon Department of Agriculture inspectors who certify the trees as pest and disease free. “It gets real hectic over the next month and there can always be weather issues, but the job is great for me,” says ODA inspector Christy Brown, whose territory this year includes portions of Clackamas County. “I love seeing Oregon and meeting people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet.” With as much as 90 percent of Oregon’s 383 licensed Christmas tree growers shipping out of state, ODA inspectors will be working seven days a week until early to mid-December when harvest and shipping finally ends.
