1Recognizing Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers for their
2efforts in promoting Pennsylvania's Christmas tree industry
3and enhancing the value of a special holiday for citizens of
4this Commonwealth.

5WHEREAS, The live Christmas tree has been an integral part of
6American and Pennsylvanian culture and traditions since the
71800s; and

8WHEREAS, This Commonwealth, and particularly Indiana County,
9is a national leader in the growing of live Christmas trees; and

10WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has more than 1,000 Christmas tree
11farms, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture, and
12thousands of other farms which grow Christmas trees in addition
13to other crops resulting in more than $22 million in annual
14sales; and

15WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is also a leading East Coast
16resource for nursery ornamental conifer stock; and

17WHEREAS, Live Christmas trees represent an environmentally
18sensitive alternative to petroleum-based artificial trees
19because live Christmas trees clean the air of pollutants, give

1off oxygen, clean our water and provide vital habitat for
2wildlife, including endangered species; and

3WHEREAS, Live Christmas trees provide economic benefits to
4this Commonwealth by reducing the cost of storm water runoff and
5providing employment in input industries such as farm
6implements; and

7WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association
8has helped promote this Commonwealth's use of live trees through
9activities, such as arranging for the donation of the Capitol
10Christmas Tree in the rotunda and donating trees to Pennsylvania
11military men and women overseas; therefore be it

12RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the efforts of the
13Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers in promoting Pennsylvania's
14Christmas tree industry and enhancing the value of a special
15holiday for citizens of this Commonwealth.