EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Fraser fir has replaced the Scotch pine as the most-popular Christmas tree.
Bert Cregg, a Michigan State University horticulture professor, is available to discuss this trend and how it impacts Michigan, which is the nation’s third-largest Christmas tree producer and is unique in the variety of trees it can grow.
Cregg can also explain the holiday experience economy and how it is growing.
“More and more, people are opting to cut their own trees rather than buying them at retail stores,” he said. “Consumers are buying into the ‘experience economy’ and choosing to make their purchase a family event with reindeer petting, wagon rides, hot chocolate and more.”
As part of his studies, Cregg also is growing several types of conifer and shade trees at his pot-in-pot research nursery. The trees are planted in pots filled with a pine bark and peat moss mix that is much lighter than soil, a feature that consumers like, he said. The pot-in-pot production system enables the trees to be sold as living Christmas trees.
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