Packer Produce keeps tradition of selling Fraser Fir Christmas Trees
MOULTRIE, Ga. – Packer Produce is spreading holiday cheer with Christmas trees and a mission to make a big difference this season.
After learning that South Georgia residents were searching for high-quality Christmas trees this holiday season, Brian Tugwell, owner of Packer Produce in Moultrie, has stocked a large inventory of Fraser Fir trees available for purchase.
“We service school systems down in South Georgia, and we’ve always been here at the Moultrie Farmers Market for 14 years. So, we just said we want to offer that as a service because there was really nobody else in town doing it. So, we wanted to carry on that tradition of being able to offer live Christmas trees, which are Fraser Fir Christmas Trees,” said Brian Tugwell, owner, Packer Produce.
Brian Tugwell explains the process of preparing the trees, from the moment they are harvested to when they arrive on the lot.
“These are Fraser Fir, which only grow in mostly the region of North Carolina, the mountains. We ship them in and we don’t have them cut until we’re ready to load them and bring them here. So, we ship them, bring them here, I store them in my cooler where I flood the floor. And, so, they are standing in water the whole time. And, then, we just bring out what we need to keep the lot full. About a hundred or so out here. And, then, we trim them, put them right back in water, and then we dress them up. So, we want it to look like, when people come out here, what it looks like will be like in their home. We ship them in and we don’t have them cut until we’re ready to load them and bring them here. It’s an evergreen. So, it’s not going to last forever. And, once you cut it, it’s not going to last forever,” said Tugwell.
Packer Produce set out to honor the beloved tradition of placing real Christmas trees in local homes. But their mission goes beyond tradition-driven by a heartfelt desire to give back to the very place where these trees were grown.
“Everybody has heard with the hurricane how it devastated the mountains in North Carolina. A lot of flooding and everything. And, it did affect a lot of the Christmas tree region. My home state is North Carolina. I’ve been there for about 25 years. My heart goes out to the region with everything that they are suffering with. So, I have decided this year that a portion of the sales this year will go to the local town that I’m getting it from, which is West Jefferson, North Carolina,” said Tugwell.
For those looking to bring home a beautiful Fraser Fir tree this holiday season, Packer Produce has you covered.
“We’re located at the Moultrie Farmers Market, which is 1601 First Avenue Southeast. Live Christmas trees are hard to find down here, good quality ones. So, we just encourage everyone to just come by and see us. I always tell everybody to come and walk around, check the trees out. I’ll tell you you’re not going to find anything fresher south of Macon. So, come by and see us,” said Tugwell.
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
Copyright 2024 CBS 44 News South Georgia. All rights reserved.
