Public is urged to shop local and buy a real Wicklow-grown tree this Christmas
A CAMPAIGN to encourage Wicklow residents to purchase a real Christmas tree this festive season has been launched.
The ‘Love a Real Tree’ campaign run by the Irish Christmas Tree Growers’ Association is now in its third year and seeks to remind local residents of the superior product which is available to them, grown in their own county.
Newtownmountkennedy Christmas tree grower and vice-chair of the association Christy Kavanagh said that the ‘Noble Fir’ grows better in Ireland than any other part of Europe.
‘ The ‘Love a Real Tree’ campaign encourages consumers to purchase a real tree as opposed to an imported artificial tree. There is a wonderful opportunity to produce superior product in this country,’ said Mr Kavanagh.
‘In fact, having seen the competition in Germany, Denmark and Britain this year, our standards are far higher than all the rest and there is still room for improvement,’ he said.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Andrew Doyle said that Irish consumers can be assured they will be purchasing a top quality product while supporting Irish jobs.
‘Around 550,000 Irish Christmas trees are harvested each year with 350,000 sold at home and about 200,000 trees exported, mainly to the UK, France and Germany,’ said Minister Doyle.
‘ The professionalism and quality of the Irish Christmas tree sector is epitomised by farmers like Christy Kavanagh and Irish consumers can be assured that they are buying the best when buying from an Irish farm. Real Christmas trees are more environmentally friendly, carbon neutral and everyone who buys an Irish tree is contributing to providing jobs in rural Ireland.’