TRENTON- Picking out your christmas tree is part of the holiday check list. 

 

Is it the right size? Do I like this color better? Those are questions we usually ask ourselves.

But what about asking where the tree is from?  

 

It could be from one of the few remaining christmas tree farms in florida-- like the one here, in trenton.

 

Bob Neilson has owned Neilson's Christmas Tree Farm for almost 20 years, a place that looks like Christmas all year around and where pine scented candles are not needed.

 

He says Trenton is a great place to grow these trees.

"Any sandy land is good for these trees we grow in Florida," said Neilson. "And we don't have a water problem or anything with it, so we don't have to worry about it flooding."

There are 25 Christmas tree farms in Florida.

 

That's a decrease from the more than 100 farms there were in the state about 20 years ago.

 

This is because of the cost of land and farmers retiring.

 

After the tree is at a "sellable size," which takes about six years from when it's first planted, farmers sell the trees to distributors.  

"I receive the trees and I unload them and set it up for the customer to see," said Sam Parker, owner of Sam Parker and Associates.

 

The rest is in your hands.

When you're shopping for your Christmas tree you want to make sure it holds it's needles well. What do I mean by that? Well if you shake the tree and no needles fall out, then that's a good one.

Neilson also says to make sure the trunk of your tree is freshly cut before you put it in its stand.

"If you have a water pot you want to make sure you check everyday that it has enough water," Neilson said. "You want to make sure the water is up off the bottom."