Needle Retention Research
Working to mitigate needle drop in Christmas trees
More than 3,500 people grow Christmas trees in Nova Scotia. Nearly 2 million trees are exported to several countries, including the USA, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan. The Christmas tree industry contributes nearly $30 million to Nova Scotia’s economy. The Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Christmas Tree Council have identified needle loss in Christmas trees as a major challenge.
Needle loss during trans-shipment or at the destination lowers a tree’s value and can results in total economic loss, thus placing the industry in jeopardy. The Needle Retention Research Program (NRRP) is sponsored by the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia to investigate the fundamental mechanisms leading to needle drop and to provide solutions to high-priority problems.