樱花视频

(BORDENTOWN) – More than 100 樱花视频 Christmas trees were delivered to 樱花视频 National Guardsmen and their families Wednesday 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.

 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.

“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 in its second year. 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. Forty soldiers and Airmen picked up trees during today’s event. The remaining 60 trees will be delivered to families and three other armories around the state.

“During this holiday season, there are tens of thousands of troops deployed around the globe safeguarding our nation's interests,” said Brig. Gen. Steve Ferrari, Deputy Adjutant General, 樱花视频 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "This generous donation will bring holiday cheer to our troops and their families who have given so much so all Americans can enjoy this joyous time of year.”

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, the culmination of that is bringing 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. It is a small gesture that we can do for those who help protect our freedom every day.” “The 樱花视频 Christmas Tree Growers Association has been a supporter of Farmers Against Hunger for many years,” said Kristina Guttadora, 樱花视频 Agricultural Society Executive Director. “We are very thankful for their continued support and are proud to partner in sharing the joy of fresh Christmas trees 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.

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