{"id":40551,"date":"2025-12-19T00:01:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T05:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=40551"},"modified":"2025-12-19T16:12:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:12:16","slug":"tis-the-season-for-family-and-friends-to-think-about-going-organic-for-environmental-and-health-reasons-putting-christmas-trees-in-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2025\/12\/tis-the-season-for-family-and-friends-to-think-about-going-organic-for-environmental-and-health-reasons-putting-christmas-trees-in-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"Tis the Season for Family and Friends To Think About Going Organic for Safety Reasons\u2014Christmas Trees in Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, December 19, 2025) While still the exception rather than the norm, a growing movement of Christmas tree farmers across the United States is demonstrating that organically managed systems can also be applied when choosing a tree during this holiday season.<\/p>\n

Health and environmental advocates across the country are calling for a transition away from toxic pesticide dependency during the holiday season. Beyond Pesticides maintains a webpage, Christmas Trees and Pesticides<\/a>, and Center for Biological Diversity and Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a \u201cspecial review of pesticides used on Christmas trees.\u201d The groups sent a letter<\/a> on December 4, the day the National Christmas Tree was lit at the White House, specifically citing the need to review the pesticides chlorpyrifos<\/a>, carbaryl<\/a>, dimethoate<\/a>, bifenthrin<\/a>, chlorothalonil<\/a>, glyphosate<\/a>, hexazinone<\/a>, imidacloprid<\/a>, simazine<\/a>, and 2,4-D<\/a>, among others.<\/p>\n

Christmas is one of the most celebrated<\/a> holidays in the United States, with Christmas trees grown on Christmas tree farms being brought into homes as part of the celebration. On average, Americans purchase 25 to 30 million<\/a> Christmas trees annually, according to the National Christmas Tree Association; however, certified organic Christmas trees, which follow the same U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards<\/a> as agricultural crops, make up only 1%<\/a> of all Christmas tree purchases.<\/p>\n

Extension Services on Christmas Tree Pest Management<\/h2>\n

There are various land grant universities and their extension services across the nation that provide resources on pest management \u201cbest practices\u201d (see Daily News <\/em>here<\/a> on the failures of IPM to address pest issues), which include toxic pesticide use, for domestic Christmas tree production, including Virginia Tech<\/a>, Penn State<\/a>, North Carolina State<\/a>, and Michigan State<\/a>. However, there are notable exceptions, including in North Carolina, which provides specific information on organic pest control in Fraser fir Christmas trees<\/a>, including best practices for organic pest management, cultural controls, organic compatible pesticides, and \u201cspecial considerations\u201d for specific pest problems.<\/p>\n

There are also the agricultural extension schools in Oregon<\/a> and Washington states, leveraging Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook – 2025 Horticultural, Landscape, and Ornamental Crops: Christmas Tree Plantation Pests Guide<\/a><\/em> (updated in March 2025), which lists organic-compliant materials and interventions for certain pests, including spider mites and common pests like conifer aphids.<\/p>\n

In the North Carolina State publication, the institution includes the following Pesticides Labeled for Use in North Carolina Christmas Trees<\/a> (bolded <\/strong>refers to substances permitted in USDA-certified organic):<\/p>\n