White House Christmas tree selected from Helene-ravaged North Carolina farm
The owner of Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, said they have never been selected to supply the nation’s Christmas tree, but doing so is an honor not only for the family but also for the entire region.
White House Christmas tree cut down in hard-hit North Carolina
A 20-foot-tall Fraser fir grown on the Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, will be displayed in the White House this holiday season.
NEWLAND, N.C. – A tree farm in western North Carolina will provide the White House’s Christmas tree from what was a hard-hit area of the state during Hurricane Helene.
The owner of Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, said they have never been selected to supply the nation’s Christmas tree, but doing so is an honor not only for the family but also for the entire region.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to represent the Christmas tree growers of America, by continuing the tradition of providing a farm-grown Christmas tree to the White House Blue Room, which will be viewed by millions of people," Sam Cartner, owner of the tree farm, said.
The North Carolina Christmas Tree Association reports that thousands of the important cash crop were damaged or destroyed during the September hurricane, with many harvesters still reeling from its impacts.
Cartner’s Christmas Tree farm in Newland, North Carolina.
(Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm / FOX Weather)
Growers in the Tar Heel State produce nearly a quarter of the real Christmas trees grown in the U.S. every year, but despite the year’s hardships, there aren’t expected to be any shortfalls around the country.
"If one region of the country has a problem, the other regions of the country typically don’t, and that is the case here," Tim O’Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association, stated. "There is no other spot that’s dealing with the challenges of North Carolina. And ultimately, the best way to help the farmers in North Carolina is by buying a real tree."
The State of North Carolina is working with farmers to ensure that products make their way out of the mountains as the selling season enters high gear.
The Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm was not immune from the hurricane’s flooding and gusty winds, but it is not stopping the holiday spirit.
"What we’re really excited about is the industry and [about] the Fraser fir being recognized as the top Christmas tree in the nation, and we’re excited to promote the industry and get recognized for our green product that’s totally recyclable – and [it’s] good for the environment and good for families," Cartner told FOX News Digital.
![White House Christmas Tree]()
Image 1 of 3The official White House Christmas tree stands in the Blue room during a media preview for the 2022 Holidays at the White House in Washington, DC, November 28, 2022. - We the People is the theme for the 2022 White House Holiday Season. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
![First Lady Jill Biden Receives The 2023 White House Christmas Tree]()
Image 2 of 3WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 20: First lady Jill Biden and children of military families pose for a picture with the official 2023 White House Christmas Tree at the White House on November 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. Biden was joined by military-connected families to receive the 18 and a half foot Fraser Fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
![White House Christmas Tree]()
Image 3 of 3WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: The official White House Christmas Tree stands in the Blue Room of the White House during a press preview of the holiday decorations November 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. The 2021 White House holidays theme is "Gifts from the Heart." A variety of interactive viewing experiences will be launched on digital platforms, including Instagram, Google Maps Street View, Snapchat, and others that will allow the public to engage with the White House from home over the course of the holidays. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The White House’s tree is expected to arrive at its final destination next week when a horse-drawn carriage will carry the 20-foot-tall Fraser fir to be inspected by the First Lady.
The tree is often the centerpiece of the White House's Blue Room, which is traditionally used for receptions and other large ceremonies.
In 2023, 98 Christmas trees with dozens of wreaths and strips of garland decorated the White House grounds.