RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The official White House Blue Room Christmas tree will come from North Carolina.
Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has donated the official Blue Room Christmas Tree to the White House.
“It has to be 18 to 19 feet tall and no more than 12 feet wide,” said Sam Cartner.
Cartner’s father started Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Avery County. And this year, that iconic tree will come from here.
“We were very excited to get the notification. My dad started this farm in the mid to late 50s,” he said.
He says his brothers have continued the family business. He says that after a local and national competition, they will be the 16th North Carolina Christmas Tree to make it to the White House.
“We have applied about 10 to 15 times,” he said.
North Carolina has approximately 940 Christmas tree growers growing 53 million Christmas trees on an estimated 33,000 acres.
“The bulk of their income and everything they do happens in 4 to 6 weeks,” said NC Christmas Tree Association Executive Director Jennifer Greene.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the crop’s value at around $100 million annually.
And it’s an industry that took a hit after Hurricane Helene.
“Mostly transportation and road access has been an issue along with access to their farms with bridges washed out, culverts taken out, and roads washed out,” said Greene.
The Cartners’ farm also sustained damage.
“We lost several thousand Christmas trees due to mudslides,” said Cartner.
He says they had minor damage, but no buildings were lost. They hope this moment will restore a little joy in Western North Carolina this holiday season.
“I hope people say after all we have been through in Western North Carolina, we got a tree in the White House,” he said.
The White House Team will be in Avery County Monday morning to select the final tree from a few Cartner Christmas Tree Farm options.
The Cartners will present the tree to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House on November 25.
