FLEETWOOD, N.C. — Cline Church has been in the Christmas tree business for 30 years. “We grow strictly the Frasier fur. Which here in North Carolina we like to call the Cadillac of Christmas trees Church said. His 400 acre farm has about 150,000 Christmas trees Around 20,000 will be cut for this holiday season. “It’s really pleasing to know you’re producing a product that’s going to go in a home and be the center piece for maybe 30 days or more,” Church said.
This year a lack of rain has caused concern for farmers all over the state, but Church says the western North Carolina counties, like Ashe County, had enough rain to keep the trees healthy. “It hasn’t affected the growth of our larger trees at all. We’ve had some great growth. The only problems we may encounter is some of our small plants that we just planted this year we may lose a little more than we normally do,” he explained.