The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Christmas tree producers and importers recently voted to continue their federal research and promotion program.
In the referendum held April 22 through May 17, 2019, 55 percent of Christmas tree producers and importers who voted were in favor of continuing the program. Christmas tree producers and importers who were subject to assessments during the period of September 1, 2018 through March 15, 2019, were eligible to participate in the referendum.
The Christmas tree research and promotion program was developed to strengthen the position of Christmas trees in the marketplace, to maintain and expand markets for Christmas trees and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry within the United States. The Christmas Tree Promotion Board has administered the program since 2015.
Research and promotion programs help to expand, maintain and develop markets for individual commodities in the United States and abroad. Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
More information about the Christmas tree program is on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board page on the AMS website and on the board’s website at www.christmastreepromotionboard.org website.
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