Here at Fresh by Northwest we appreciate and patronize local farms, local farmers and local farmers markets. When I recently read this article in the Corvallis Gazette Times I realized that I hadn’t ever really given any thought to tree farming, and certainly not Christmas tree farming. Even though we only think about Christmas trees once a year it’s time to start making choices based on the growing practices used by tree farms, just as we do in purchasing our farmers market produce. Not everyone in the United States has this option, but if you live in the Pacific Northwest you can choose to shop local for your Christmas tree. Support those growers whose methods support you and the earth.

Now let’s revisit and simplify that old debate. Is it greener to buy an artificial Christmas tree or to get a real tree? It depends on how it is manufactured and distributed. For example, if you are buying an artificial tree made in China the price may be lower than buying a real tree but the environmental cost is higher. Buying an artificial tree made in the US would be a greener option, but still not as green as buying a locally farmed Christmas tree. In the past artificial trees may have had the edge but not any longer. The more we buy locally grown trees the more we decrease the environmental costs, and increase the benefits.