Minnesota State Forests a Big Source for Holiday Wreath Industry

As the popular songs proclaims, it's the most wonderful time of the year.  Most of the Christmas trees are up and wreaths are hung.  Once again this year, Minnesota state forests remain a crucial resource to keep things look merry and bright. 

According to the Minnesota DNR, each year, about 734,000 pounds of balsam boughs are harvested from state forests between late September and early December.  Harvesters must have a permit and a good day’s picking can yield up to 1,000 pounds of boughs – enough to make 200 wreaths, each 25 inches in diameter.

Minnesota is one of the national leaders in the holiday wreath industry, employing thousands of seasonal employees in several Minnesota cities. Workers harvest boughs from forests and assemble wreaths in small factories. Leading up to early December, one leading wreath manufacturer has been assembling up to 1,500 wreaths each day.

It is estimated that companies producing wreaths in Minnesota have total sales exceeding $23 million and growing.