I am writing in support of the proposed checkoff program at the highest amount acceptable to the major producers, i.e. up to $0.15 / tree (or the equivalent in gross sales, which is probably a better way to report it).
Santa & Sons Christmas Trees would be a willing participant even if the amount were $0.25/tree or the equivalent. With the funds that are collected, I very strongly feel that they should be directed only at marketing, and not for farming research. The reason I feel that way is marketing has been the one place where our industry has historically failed to provide consistent support and we desperately need to manage our product's image, lest our image be managed for us by the artifical tree makers. It also makes the program easier to understand and support for growers. And it is the nationally based nature of the program that makes it it benefit all growers so it is an ideal fit for creating and sustaining a market image for real Christmas trees.
The size cutoff seems to make sense to me and also seems to be at about the right level. Creating a register on a .org url with website links for all participating contributors could provide an incentive for growers under the size cutoff to contribute.
Good luck and thank you for your work on this issue.
Mark Rohlfs
Santa & Sons Christmas Trees
1 comment:
Mainstay Farm near Fort Worth, Texas will support the check-off program. The Wilson's feel that the sum of the whole is greater than its parts. We will gladly give.
P.S. This industry has been very good to us. Jim Wilson
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