RUTHER GLEN—There are many reasons for buying a Virginia-grown Christmas tree this season—like creating lifelong memories.

“I’ve talked to a lot of guys who are 70 or 80 years old and remember the first tree they cut,” remarked Ben Snyder, co-owner of Firever Pines in Caroline County.

Choosing a fresh-cut Christmas tree for your holiday centerpiece means you’re supporting a local farmer like Snyder, who works throughout the year to bring Christmas cheer to customers. There were 480 Virginia farms that cultivated Christmas trees, on 9,805 acres, in 2022, according to the most-recent U.S. Census of Agriculture.

Christmas trees are a strong contributor to Virginia’s agricultural economy, with annual sales around $10 million, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Another benefit of purchasing a live Christmas tree: It’s good for the environment. Trees produce oxygen while absorbing and storing carbon, their roots reduce erosion while improving water quality, and they provide shelter for wildlife, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.

“For every tree that’s harvested, we plant another two,” Snyder noted.

There’s a lot that goes into growing around 7,000 trees on Snyder’s 9-acre Virginia farm and another 3,000 on his 5-acre Pennsylvania farm.

After planting around 1,000 to 2,000 trees each spring, the farm manages the grass while monitoring soil and tree health—routinely checking for any signs of disease or malnutrition. The trees are trimmed in the summer and cut in mid-November.

“There’s also a lot of losses that go into it—whether there’s a drought or too much rain,” Snyder added.

Prolonged drought conditions and other challenges cut into this year’s crop at Hank’s Christmas Trees in Fauquier County. The farm lost 5,000 trees after planting 6,000 in the spring.

“But we still have trees to sell this year,” said Cheryll Green, the farm’s co-owner.

Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, customers can visit the farm and choose from a selection of Fraser fir, Douglas fir, blue spruce, white pine, Leyland cypress and blue ice trees to cut down themselves or with assistance. The farm also offers pre-cut Fraser firs and wreaths.

Green said “the experience” of visiting a Christmas tree farm is the No. 1 benefit. While browsing the farm’s trees or holiday shop, visitors can indulge in complementary hot chocolate or purchase hot cider, grilled cheese or a burger.

Hank’s will offer Santa’s Magical Train Ride on Friday and Saturday evenings by appointment only. Families can ride their own train car to Santa’s Cottage, meet Santa, and enjoy free kettle corn, candy canes and “reindeer food.”

Starting Nov. 23, visitors to Firever Pines can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate while browsing the farm’s choose-and-cut selection of blue ice trees or pre-cut Fraser fir, Douglas fir and concolor fir—Synder’s personal favorite.

“It has a really nice blue color to it, sturdy branches and a citrus-like smell,” he said.

Snyder’s customers can get immersed in the holidays by exploring the farm’s Elf Village and shopping for holiday goods like garlands, ornaments and handmade wreaths in the Christmas shop.

And when the season is over, customers can bring their trees back to Firever Pines to be mulched and reapplied to the soil—nourishing next year’s Christmas trees.

For more information, visit fireverpines.com and hankschristmastrees.com.

To find a Virginia Christmas tree farm near you, visit virginiachristmastrees.org.

Media: Contact Snyder at 804-814-2900 or Green at 540-532-0436.