AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — A 20-foot Fraser fir in Avery County was chosen to be the next White House Christmas tree.
The selection Monday came weeks after Helene devastated much of western North Carolina. Channel 9′s Dave Faherty learned 250,000 trees of all sizes were lost in Avery County during the storm.
[ Want to help after Helene? Buy a Christmas tree from North Carolina, farmers say ]
The growers said most of the trees lost during Helene are not ones that would have gone to market this year. They said road crews have done a tremendous job getting the roads fixed to get their trees to market, and the season wouldn’t be possible without their help.
At Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm, Faherty followed the family and White House officials as they selected the official Christmas tree. The family was chosen for the honor after being named the Grand Champion Growers at the National Christmas Tree contest.
“At least a 20-foot tree that’s full all the way around because there’s no back to the tree,” said Dale Haney, the White House grounds superintendent. “Looking for good color that’s straight and always looking for a good smell.”
Faherty was there when the tree, which will be placed in the Blue Room of the White House, was selected.
Sam Cartner, who has been growing trees most of his life, said it was an honor. But his family said the real recognition should also go to all the people who have helped Avery County recover after Helene.
“All the generosity that people from all around the U.S. have shown, coming in to help us, to help people who lost so much in the flood,” he said. “We want this tree to represent the good things.”
Cartner said he lost more than 5,000 trees from mudslides. He is grateful for the work of the North Carolina Department of Transportation for repairing many of the roads here to allow crews to get to the farms.
Larry Smith is also a grower. He just got his power back a few days ago.
“Just keep us in your thoughts and prayers,” he said. “Thank everybody for what they’ve done.”
Each year, growers in Avery County harvest around a million trees. This year, the state is estimating the losses to the growers between $30 million to $40 million.
Faherty was told it would be several more weeks before the official White House Christmas Tree will be sent to Washington, D.C.
The High Country is a popular spot for the White House to pick a Christmas tree. This is now the fourth time in seven years a North Carolina tree will head to the capital.
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