Christmas Season Starts Early For Wisconsin's Tree Inspectors

Wild Rose — Before they're cut, wrapped and thrown onto flatbed trucks …Before they're driven to lots far from the fields where they grew tall and lush from seedlings…And before they're chosen from all the other fragrant evergreens to bring home, strung with colored lights and adorned with shiny ornaments…They're inspected.

Many of the Wisconsin Christmas trees destined to brighten holidays get the once-over from state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection inspectors each fall to ensure they are not carrying any hitchhikers — gypsy moth eggs or pine beetles — before shipping.

With more than 600,000 evergreens harvested each fall, according to the most recent census, Wisconsin is sixth in the nation in Christmas tree sales and fifth in the number of trees cut and acres — more than 23,000 — in production. Wisconsin is known for its firs, including Balsam, Fraser and Canaan, as well as its spruces, including Scotch pine and white pine.

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