The tradition of displaying a decorated evergreen in celebration of Christmas dates back hundreds of years. The origin of the tradition is still a subject of debate, but its appearance in America can be traced back to the arrival of German immigrants in the late 1700s. Though hard to imagine now, Christmas trees were not a central part of holiday celebrations in most homes until the mid-1800s. Initially, Americans cut their own trees from local forests, but as more people flocked to larger cities, there was a need for a central Christmas tree market. Forested areas adjacent to urban areas were quickly picked clean of all Christmas-suitable firs, and it was clear that a new tree farming system was in order.
The Pacific Northwest is a natural choice for Christmas tree farming. The soil, while perfect for growing healthy firs, won't support many other crops. The damp, cool winters and shorter, mild summers provide ideal growing conditions, and the region's proximity to major thoroughfares and waterways makes transporting the trees simple. As more farms were established in the area, The Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association was born. Since 1955, it has served as a forum for growers to share information, practice environmental stewardship and conduct outreach to the public to educate them about the industry. Farms represented in the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association range in size from five to 10,000 acres, and many are family-owned and operated. The association also helps farmers keep abreast of the latest technology and growing technique in the industry. Now consisting of more than 1,075 farms, the association works to maintain the Pacific Northwest's reputation as one of the country's largest Christmas tree producers while ensuring that safe, sustainable farming practices are being observed.