Howard County Farm Provides Fresh Trees For Christmas

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- One Howard County farm is keeping a Christmas tradition alive: growing fresh trees. The state says more Maryland customers are buying fresh-cut trees.

Gigi Barnett explains how it's keeping the thriving business alive.

Find it, cut it down, take it home and enjoy.

"We always say the saddest thing must be to open a plastic tree for Christmas," said David Healey, owner of Greenway Farms.

For the last 25 years, that's what Healey has offered customers between the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. He owns Greenway Christmas Tree Farm in Howard County. This year, he's seeing a boom in customers on his 20-acre site.

"A lot of people say they've seen it in newspapers or on Facebook or Google," Healey said. "A lot of their friends tell them, which is the best thing."

Last week, the state launched its annual Christmas Tree Campaign, urging customers to buy fresh and buy local.

It comes at a time when trends show more people are doing away with plastic, pre-lit trees and turning back to the real deal.

"Although we are cutting down a tree, it's something that's helped the environment while it was growing and I don't want that plastic toxic tree in my house at all," said customer Kristen Farina.

That's one reason why the Farina family is buying real this year. The other: this creates holiday memories for their girls.

"We've got our long johns and our jeans on today so we can truck out in the mud and cut down a tree," Farina said.

Maryland has more than 170 Christmas tree growers. According to the Department of Agriculture, Carroll County has 20 Christmas tree farms--that's the most in the state.

If you're looking for a Christmas tree farm, click here.

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