BANGOR (AP) – Maine Christmas tree growers appear be sharing in a national upturn in the market, about a 25 percent increase in the past three years.

The Christmas tree industry pumps about $5 million a year into Maine’s economy, according to Calvin Luther, president of the Maine Christmas Tree Association and owner of Penobscot Evergreens Farm in Bucksport. Luther said that unlike past years, Maine Christmas tree growers are not worried about Canadian imports this season. He said the market is strong enough to absorb all the trees that are being cut.

The nation’s Christmas tree growers have had several years of good sales and have a strong wholesale market in part because people are embracing traditional family values, which include taking their families out to search for the perfect natural Christmas tree, Luther said.

In Sangerville, the family-owned Hall’s Christmas Tree Farm has been in business since 1931, and this is the first year the farm will be debt-free. Co-owner Cynthia Hall said people who get natural trees know are doing something good for the environment while supporting Maine jobs.

People who have artificial trees don’t know what theyre missing, Hall said. “What they’re missing is the connection with nature and the beautiful fragrance.”

The Maine Christmas Tree Association represents about 100 farms, or roughly three-quarters of Maine’s Christmas tree growers.

The National Christmas Tree Association lists Maine as the country’s 13th largest producer of Yule trees, based on numbers of trees harvested in 2002. The top producer was Oregon, with nearly 6.5 million trees harvested, followed by North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Maine recorded 164,406 Christmas trees harvested.

The association is organizing “Trees for Troops” to collect more than 11,000 trees in 27 states for U.S. troops overseas and their families at home.

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On the Net:

National Christmas Tree Association: www.christmastree.org/statistics-industry.cfm