The Baker-Polito Administration has declared Friday, November 27, 2020 as “Green Friday” to encourage people across the Commonwealth to visit their local farms and nurseries for Christmas trees, holiday plants, and holiday decorating needs. To celebrate, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux participated in a Christmas tree cutting ceremony at Arrowhead Acres in Uxbridge. In an effort to support the Commonwealth’s Christmas tree industry, the declaration of Green Friday encourages people throughout the state to visit their local Christmas tree farms to purchase their Christmas trees, holiday plants, ornamental swags, and wreaths to fulfill their holiday decorating needs.
“Our administration believes in the importance of supporting our farms by shopping locally and purchasing holiday decorations from one of the Commonwealth’s many family-operated Christmas tree farms,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Now more than ever, it is a great time to spend quality time with your family while partaking in this outdoor activity which allows for proper social distancing.”
“We are so proud to recognize the impact that the Christmas tree growers have on stimulating the local economy and supplying beautiful Christmas trees and holiday decorations throughout the remainder of the year,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Given that this year has been a tough one for many families, it is important that we make this holiday season extra special.”
“I look forward to Green Friday every year as a chance to support the purchasing of fresh-cut trees and live holiday decor from a local farm while also reducing our carbon footprint,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The very positive impacts that Christmas tree farms have on our environment are substantial.”
Christmas tree season in Massachusetts provides hundreds of seasonal jobs at approximately 264 Christmas tree farms on approximately 2,801 acres of land from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. The sale of over 82,524 Massachusetts-grown Christmas trees contributes approximately $3.5 million to the Commonwealth’s economy each year. Christmas tree farms, which are often sited on soils that cannot support other crops, stabilize soil, which helps prevent erosion and protect water supplies. When chipped, the trees can be used as a renewable source of energy to be burned as fuel, used as mulch, or composted.
“Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit more than the natural beauty of fresh, full, fragrant MassGrown Christmas trees and other live holiday decor,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “We look forward to another successful season for this sector of Massachusetts’ agricultural industry.”
“Arrowhead Acres is pleased to represent the many Christmas tree farms across the Commonwealth and be this year’s host for the Annual Christmas Tree cutting ceremony to celebrate Green Friday,” said Dave Morin, owner of Arrowhead Acres. “We’ve been selling trees to the community since 1995 and enjoy offering the public a family experience, as well as hot chocolate, cider and snacks! We have more gorgeous trees this year than we have had in the past 10 years and all looking for homes.”
Visit the MassGrown website to find Christmas tree farms and nurseries across the stat