Business & Tech
Poll: Will Your Holiday Tree Show Home State Loyalty?
'Buy Michigan' message event extends to where that fine fir was grown, shaken, wrapped and sold. Where are you getting your tree this year?
If you seek a tree made in Michigan, look about you.
It's taking a little bit of license with the Michigan motto. But the state's agricultural director and local growers are asking consumers to "buy local" when it comes to holiday decorations, including Christmas trees.
Keith Creagh, Michigan's agricultural director, visited a West Michigan garden center Thursday to promote holiday season decorating with trees, wreaths and other items that had Michigan roots, literally. "Make a fresh, fragrant and natural choice to buy a real, Michigan Christmas tree and poinsettia this holiday season," he says in an advance statement.
Find out what's happening in Troyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Michigan ranks fourth nationally in Christmas tree production, a list led by Oregon, North Carolina and Wshington.
Marsha Gray, executive director of the Howell-based Michigan Christmas Tree Association, joined the state official at a morning news conference in Kentwood aimed at boosting an industry hurt by artificial tree sales. Evergreen sellers statewide have lost "considerable market share" to what Gray calls fake trees, she told the Kalamazoo Gazette after last season.
Find out what's happening in Troyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Her association's 168 members include:
- , Oakland Township
- Howell Nature Center
- Tryban Trees, Farmington Hills
- Waldock Tree Farm, Howell
Where to get a tree
Locally, there are plenty of places to buy trees, if you aren't going to cut your own. We can't guarantee they were grown in Michigan, but they are being sold locally. They include:
- Troy: Uncle Luke's Feed Store, 6691 Livernois Rd., (248) 879-9147
- Troy: , 3301 John R Rd., (248) 689-8735
- Royal Oak: English Gardens, 4901 Coolidge Hwy., (248) 280-9500
- Royal Oak: Shrine Dads Club lot, in the parking lot of , Woodward just south of 12 Mile Road
- Royal Oak: The Ho Ho Ho Co., on the east side of Woodward north of 13 Mile Road next to the .
For charity
Grace Centers of Hope, a homeless shelter that accommodates hundreds of men, women and children on a daily basis, , located at 210 N. Perry St. in Pontiac, for $25. All proceeds go to the shelter.
