'Puget Sound Fresh' Christmas trees available for this holiday season

There is one foolproof way to guarantee that the Christmas tree you purchase this holiday season is as fresh as it can be: Buy from a tree grower who is participating in the Puget Sound Fresh program.

Fourteen Christmas tree farmers throughout the Puget Sound region are participating in the Puget Sound Fresh program this holiday season, including seven farmers here in King County.

"Purchasing a tree from a participating Puget Sound Fresh farmer means consumers are not only ensured that they are getting the best possible tree, but they are also supporting the local farming community," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Agriculture remains an important component to our region’s economy and is vital to maintaining our overall quality of life."

The Puget Sound Fresh is a program of the non-profit Cascade Harvest Coalition, supported by King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties. King County began the program in 1998 to help consumers identify products that are grown, raised or harvested in one of the 12 counties that touch Puget Sound.

In addition to the Puget Sound Fresh Partners program, Puget Sound Fresh publishes the annual Farm Guide to help consumers find local farms, including U-pick farms, organic products, recipes, agricultural activities and more. Complete information is available at: www.pugetsoundfresh.org, or by contacting Steve Evans, (206) 296-7824.