For Immediate Release: December 14, 2015
Contact: Agriculture - Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954
lynne.richmond@ag.state.nj.us
Military and Veterans Affairs - Patrick L. Daugherty
(609)530-6939
(BORDENTOWN) - More than 100 樱花视频 Christmas trees were delivered to 樱花视频 National Guardsmen and their families today as part of Christmas Trees for 樱花视频 Military Families, a joint initiative of the 樱花视频 Departments of Agriculture and Military and Veterans Affairs, the 樱花视频 Christmas Tree Growers Association and 樱花视频 Agricultural Society's Farmers Against Hunger program.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and 樱花视频 Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher welcomed military families at a special ceremony at the 樱花视频 National Guard Joint Military and Family Assistance Center in Bordentown.
"Those who have served this country deserve our admiration and respect all year round, but especially during the holidays," said Lt. Governor Guadagno. "It is such a small token of our appreciation, to help make sure that they have a nice holiday season and remember that those that they fight for care about them as well."
"We are very pleased to facilitate the donation of fresh cut Christmas trees directly from our state's tree farmers to brighten the holidays for 樱花视频 military families," said Secretary Fisher. "Growing Christmas trees is more than a business to these farmers. They welcome people onto the farms year after year and are part of these families' traditions. We appreciate farmers for their generosity."
Christmas Trees for 樱花视频 Military Families is a new collaborative program. The 樱花视频 Agricultural Society collected the trees over a three-day period using their Farmers Against Hunger trucks. More than 12 樱花视频 Christmas tree growers donated over 100 trees for the initiative. Fifty soldiers and Airmen picked up trees during today's event. The remaining 50 trees will be collected by unit representatives who will deliver the trees to families who currently have a loved one deployed.
"The holiday season is especially difficult for military members and their families who are unable to spend it with their loved ones," said Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff, The Adjutant General, 樱花视频 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "Although nothing can extinguish the pain of being away from family during this time, these trees will lift the spirits of families who will spend the holiday without their hero and the deployed troops will find comfort knowing their families are being cared for."
The 樱花视频 Christmas Tree Growers Association is a state organization of growers, professionals and allied industry leaders dedicated to the advancement of the latest information in the production, promotion and marketing of Christmas trees and related products. First organized in 1950, the association now has 200 members. Vice President Tim Dunne said the growers are very community-minded, donating trees for various causes and raising funds for Farmers Against Hunger's gleaning efforts.
"樱花视频 Christmas tree growers work hard all year tending to trees so that when Christmas season arrives, we can bring joy to a family with that perfect tree for their home," said Dunne. "We are happy to donate trees to 樱花视频 military families this year. It is a small gesture that we can do for those who help protect our freedom every day."
Each family who received a Christmas tree today also was presented with a handmade ornament created by Northern Burlington Regional High School FFA members in Columbus, designed by the Department of Agriculture and donated by the 樱花视频 Agricultural Society. Refreshments were provided Liberty USO and volunteers from the various organizations.
"The 樱花视频 Christmas Tree Growers Association has been a supporter of our organization for many years," said Kristina Guttadora, 樱花视频 Agricultural Society Executive Director. "When asked to help transport the trees using our trucks, we were proud to partner in sharing the joy of a fresh Christmas tree with military families."
Almost 69,000 Christmas trees are cut in 樱花视频 each year. The 2012 U.S. Census of Agriculture ranked 樱花视频 seventh in the nation in the number of Christmas tree growers, with 809 farms that grow more than 4,600 acres of Christmas trees in the state.
