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

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.