FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, OCT. 15, 2007

N.C. Christmas tree will grace the White House

RALEIGH – Christmas is just around the corner, and White House staff members are coming to North Carolina in their search for the perfect Christmas tree to adorn the Blue Room. 

The media are invited to attend the selection of the White House Christmas tree on Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. at Joe and Linda Freeman’s Mistletoe Meadows farm in Laurel Springs.

Interviews with the Freemans may be scheduled by calling the National Christmas Tree Association at (636) 449-5071.  Tours of the farm will be offered in the afternoon.

The Freemans received this honor by winning the Grand Champion Growers title at the National Christmas Tree Association contest held in Portland, Ore., in 2006. To be eligible to enter a tree at the national competition, Joe Freeman first won the N.C. Christmas Tree Association contest.

This marks the 10th time since 1966 that a North Carolina Christmas tree will be displayed at the White House for the holidays. 

The tree will be cut in late November and transported to Washington, D.C., for a formal presentation to first lady Laura Bush, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 26.

Joe Freeman grows Fraser fir Christmas trees on a 130-acre farm five miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.  He has nearly 100,000 trees planted on his farm. He also grows trees in Moore County and Virginia. The Freemans own and operate a retail lot in Asheboro during the holiday season, and also sell wholesale to retailers, garden centers and fundraising groups.

Joe Freeman is a member of the National Christmas Tree Association, the N.C. Christmas Tree Association, the Ashe County Christmas Tree Growers Association, the Mount Rogers Christmas Tree Growers Association and the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association.

He was the N.C. Christmas Tree Association Grand Champion Wreath winner in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2002. He grew the NCCTA Grand Champion Tree in 2001.  He also took home the National Grand Champion Wreath award in 1998 and 2004. 

For more information and directions to the farm, visit www.mistletoemeadows.com. 

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