Troxler to present first Fraser fir seed license and first pound of seed sold at Christmas tree lighting ceremony

After more than three decades of research, the world’s only certified Fraser fir seeds are ready to be sold, and N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will present the first pound of those seeds to the first buyer – an Ashe County Christmas tree farm.

The presentation will be part of the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Upper Mountain Research Station. It will also include presenting the grower with the first license for the trademarked seeds. 

This event opens the door for other farms to buy the seeds that have been refined over the years to make consumers happy, help growers and ensure the future of the Christmas tree industry in the state.

It also marks the start of the harvest season for North Carolina Christmas trees.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 4:30 p.m.

Tobacco Trust Fund Christmas Tree Seed Center of Excellence
Upper Mountain Research Station
8004 N.C. Highway 88
Laurel Springs, NC 28644

The Tobacco Trust Fund Christmas Tree Seed Center is located at the Upper Mountain Research Station and supports NC State University’s Whitehill Lab Christmas Tree Genetics Program. The center processes, stores and distributes Alpha Select, a trademarked line of genetically superior Fraser fir seed.

While North Carolina Christmas tree research dates back to the 1960s, a research project launched in 1996 led directly to Alpha Select seeds. Researchers evaluated more than 28,000 Fraser fir trees before selecting the best genetics for the improved seeds. The trees grown from Alpha Select are expected to be more uniform, with excellent needle retention and other desirable characteristics. Growers are also expected to benefit from trees that reach harvest size sooner and require less shaping.

The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission provided funding for the seed center and the specialized equipment needed to process Fraser fir seed. The facility is an investment in the long-term future of an industry that contributes an estimated $250 million to North Carolina’s economy and supports thousands of jobs, particularly in the state’s mountain communities.

The center opened and began processing seeds in July, giving North Carolina growers access to a dependable, locally produced supply of genetically superior seeds. Now Spencer Farms of Ashe County is the first buyer of Alpha Select seeds.

In addition to presenting the first pound of seeds, Troxler and project partners will share remarks and light a 16-foot North Carolina Fraser fir.