December 4, 2008
Florida-Grown Christmas Trees Presented To State Leaders At Capitol
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today presented freshly cut Florida-grown Christmas trees to the Governor and Cabinet officers at The Capitol. Bronson was accompanied by Tony and Debbie Harris, operators of Ergle Christmas Tree Farm in Dade City, who grew the trees and presented them on behalf of the Florida Christmas Tree Association.
“Buying homegrown Florida Christmas trees helps support our farmers and it boosts our state’s economy,” Bronson said. It’s also an easy way to help make your holidays more ‘green,’ because buying locally grown trees is better for the environment since less fuel is used in transportation.”
The Official State Christmas Tree, which will be on display in the Governor’s Office, was selected by the kindergarten class from Lacoochee Elementary School in Pasco County. The class visited the Ergle Christmas Tree Farm and selected the tree at the invitation of Debbie Harris, who is assistant principal for Central High School in Spring Hill. The farm also donated a tree for their class room.
Tony and Debbie Harris have been in the Christmas tree business since 1980, and are second-generation owners of Ergle Christmas Tree Farm, which was passed on by Debbie’s father, Omar Ergle. The farm grows 20 acres of choose-and-cut trees, including cedar, sand pine, Leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphire. The farm also offers potted trees, wreaths, precut trees, and Christmas cactus, and features a petting farm for children. The couple plan to add hydroponic and organic farm products to their operation. For more information about Ergle Christmas Tree Farm, visit www.ergletrees.com or call (352) 583-3647.
Christmas tree farming in Florida is a small industry run by family-owned businesses on land that has often been passed through generations. The Florida Christmas Tree Association (FCTA) represents 25 Christmas tree farms in Florida. It was organized to promote the production of better Christmas trees, promote research, encourage grading, reduce waste in marketing, and foster cooperation among growers. For more information about the FCTA, visit www.flchristmastrees.com. To locate Christmas tree farms in Florida, visit the FCTA web site or www.florida-agriculture.com/consumers/christmas_trees.htm.
For more information:
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us
