The countdown to Christmas has begun.
Only two weeks separate us from the widely celebrated holiday. While you are out last minute shopping, an agriculture official would like for you to consider picking up an Iowa grown tree.
AUDIO: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship atrium screams Christmas, as it proudly displays a 50-foot white pine tree. Each holiday season, the Iowa Christmas Growers Association decorates the government building and many others. Their farmer members also provide many Iowans with this annual decoration.
As Christmas quickly approaches, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages Iowans to ring in the holiday with an Iowa-grown tree.
?We have nearly 100 Christmas tree farms across the state and those farms will sell around 40,000 Iowa grown Christmas trees every year. (There?s) no shortage of places to go and it?s a great family tradition. Go out and support local producers, and have a little fun while you?re at it,? Naig said.
Finding the perfect, live tree is no small feat. First, you must take height and width into consideration.
?One of the things you always want to make sure of is you have the right size. Christmas trees tend to grow when they?re inside, or at least it seems that way. Know how big that space is, where you?d like the tree to go, and then remember that when you?re looking at it outside,? Naig said.
To find a tree farm nearest you visit www.iowachristmastrees.com.
