Jose Cruiz walks past a row of Christmas trees ready to be shipped at Peak Farms in Jefferson, N.C., Nov. 17, 2012. Crews at Peak Farms will harvest nearly 65,000 Christmas trees this season.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Doniel Garcia reaches out to grab a tree as it is loaded into a trailer to be shipped to Florida at Peak Farms. North Carolina has 1,500 Christmas tree growers with nearly 50 million Fraser fir Christmas trees on more than 14,000 hectares.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
A sign outside the shop at Peak Farms.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Moses Najera, right, places a Christmas tree onto a conveyor belt to load the trees onto a trailer before shipping.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Second graders posted tags on some of the trees asking the recipients to send a post card so the class can map the trees' destinations.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Abraham Plaza, left, and Eduardo Rosales drag a Christmas tree through a field at the Omni Farm in West Jefferson, N.C., Nov. 17, 2012. Crews at Omni will harvest nearly 20,000 Christmas trees this season.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Felix Valencia carries a Christmas tree to a tractor trailer for shipping at Omni.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Jose Mendoza makes a wreath out of Christmas tree scraps in a shed at Omni.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Fraser fir Christmas trees carpet an idyllic countryside at the Omni Farm in West Jefferson, N.C.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Workers use a bailing machine to prepare a Christmas tree for shipping at Omni.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Pedro Cardenas throws a bailed Christmas tree onto a trailer prior to shipping.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Inocencio Hernandez takes a break from cutting down Christmas trees at the Omni Farm.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
Beau Estes uses a fork lift to transport the White House Christmas tree after it was cut down at Peak Farms in Jefferson, N.C., Nov. 17, 2012.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters
The White House Christmas tree is loaded into the back of a tractor trailer at Peak Farms. The 5.6-metre Fraser fir, which was planted from a seed in 1990, will be displayed in the Blue Room at the White House.CHRIS KEANE/Reuters