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Deck the halls with the perfect Ontario grown Christmas tree this year

Minister of Natural Resources David Orazietti News Release ***** You can't deck the halls without the perfect Christmas tree. Every kid knows that's where Santa puts the presents.

Minister of Natural Resources David Orazietti

News Release

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You can't deck the halls without the perfect Christmas tree.

Every kid knows that's where Santa puts the presents. For adults, it's the fragrant hallmark of Christmas past, present and future.

Over 500 Ontario farmers produce more than one million Christmas trees each year.

So find a fir, pick a pine or select a spruce. Choose one that's tall and skinny, or short and chubby like Santa Claus.

Searching for a locally grown Christmas tree?

Look for the Ontario Wood tag or ask the retailer where the trees were grown.

Top 10 reasons why you should buy an Ontario-grown Christmas tree:
1.Real Christmas trees are all-natural -- no chemicals, no petroleum, no plastic. Best of all, no assembly required.
2.Everyone, young and old, can help pick the family Christmas tree -- even the family dog.
3.Real trees smell like winter for weeks, but you only have to go out in the snow once.
4.Buying a locally grown tree puts you on Santa's "nice" list for supporting your local economy.
5.Christmas trees truly are a breath of fresh air because they turn carbon dioxide into oxygen.
6.The tree-cutting experience usually ends with hot chocolate.
7.Help a homeless chipmunk -- lay your tree in the backyard after Christmas to shelter birds and small wild animals.
8.Sawing down a Christmas tree hones your turkey-carving technique.
9.Ontario Christmas trees are everywhere. With hundreds of retailers across the province, your perfect tree could be just around the corner.
10.Good things grow-oh-oh in Ontario.

This holiday season, the Ontario government, the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario, the Ontario Forestry Association and Trees Ontario are teaming up to support sustainably grown Ontario Christmas trees.

Rock around the Christmas tree with us! Dec. 7, 2013 is National Christmas Tree Day, a day to celebrate the benefits of buying natural Christmas trees.

Quick Facts
• One million Christmas trees are harvested and sold in Ontario each year generating $5 million in sales.
• Five hundred Christmas tree farms help to support jobs and local economies across Ontario.
• Christmas trees are grown as an agricultural crop. For every tree harvested, three seedlings are planted for future holiday seasons.
• It takes eight to 10 years to grow an eight-foot Christmas tree, depending on the species.
• Thirty-five per cent of Ontario consumers buy real Christmas trees every year.
• Natural Christmas trees are recyclable and completely biodegradable.
• Every hectare of planted Christmas trees produces enough daily oxygen for 45 people.

Quotes

"An Ontario-grown Christmas tree, whether it’s purchased direct from a tree farm or from a retail vendor is sustainably grown, supports our economy and is both renewable and recyclable.”

- David Orazietti, Minister of Natural Resources

"Come out to a local farm and enjoy the last harvest of the season by choosing a real Ontario tree.”

- Shirley Brennan, Executive Director, Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario

"Ontario Christmas tree farms are managed for the long term and provide the ecological benefits of forests all year-round. When one tree is harvested another three are planted in its place.”

Carla Grant, Executive Director, Ontario Forestry Association

"Trees Ontario is very pleased to exhibit at the Distillery District's Toronto Christmas Market for the third year. This year, together with Ontario Wood and the Ontario Forestry Association, Trees Ontario is able to promote and sell real, locally grown Ontario Christmas trees and educate the public on the benefits of tree planting and forest restoration.”

Rob Keen, CEO, Trees Ontario

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