When folks find out you're a tree grower, their first question is: When do you start cutting trees? They're concerned about how fresh their tree will be. It's a combination of things.
Our "Fresh Approach" begins in early October when we walk through the fields and individually grade and select each tree. These trees are identified with a ribbon having the symbol of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Growers Association and the words: North Carolina Fraser Fir. They also have the grade ribbons which are solid colors of red, blue, green, yellow, or white, indicating their size and Premium quality. At harvest these trees are given special attention as to when they're harvested, how they're stored and when they're brought to you. That's important.
Some growers begin their harvest around the middle of October for trees that will be shipped in containers to far away places but normally around the first of November is when the real harvest begins. It starts with the "big box" and chain stores for trees that will be shipped to the stores distribution center. Next, around the second week of November, harvest begins for trees that will ship to the Midwest, Northern and Southern states. The trees sold on our lots are harvested the week before Thanksgiving and the first week of December.
It's all about temperature and water. We work hard to leave our trees in the mountains where it's cool until they're needed, it makes for extra trips up and down the road but it's worth it to you. When they arrive at our lot we make a fresh cut on the tree and display it in water, that's critical to maintaining its freshness.
Finally, when you purchase your tree from Black Bear we will make another fresh cut and trim the bottom of the tree to accommodate your stand. We will also mechanically "shake" it to remove any debris such as loose needles and branches, then carefully bale and load it for the ride home.
That's our approach and our commitment to the quality of this great product, the Fraser Fir Christmas tree, and it's grown right here in North Carolina.
