| Maine is the largest producer of balsam fir Christmas | | | | can be seen from each side of the door. This |
| wreaths in the United States. Millions of wreaths are | | | | wouldn’t work with a single-faced wreath with |
| shipped out every year. Maine’s forests cover | | | | the balsam tips attached to only one side. |
| over 85% of the state. A lot of this forest is available | | | | Naturally, the single-faced wreaths are cheaper to |
| for harvesting of balsam fir tips which is a sustainable | | | | make in materials and labor. Most of the major big box |
| harvest. Only 12 to 20 inches of the ends of the | | | | retailers sell single-faced wreaths. |
| branches are cut and they grow back year to year. | | | | The wreath industry in Maine includes tippers, wreath |
| A wreath is made by attaching bunches of the balsam | | | | makers, wholesalers and retailers. Tippers (people who |
| fir tips to a metal ring. The bunches of tips are wired to | | | | gather the tips) sell to a local wreath business or |
| the ring. The common sizes for the wreath rings are | | | | wreath maker. There is a large cottage industry of |
| 8,10, 12, 14 and 16 inch. The outside diameter of the | | | | wreath makers who make wreaths at home and sell |
| wreath is determined by the size of the ring. For | | | | them, undecorated for the most part, to local |
| example, at Acadia Wreath Company, our 24” | | | | wholesalers or retailers or directly to consumers. |
| Christmas wreath is built on a 12 inch ring and our | | | | The balsam fir tips are not only used to make |
| 30” Christmas wreath is built on a 16” ring. | | | | Christmas wreaths. Christmas centerpieces, kissing |
| The amount of balsam tips needed for a wreath | | | | balls, swags and garland are also made. Garland is not |
| depends again on the size of the ring. We make very | | | | a huge part of the industry because wreath makers |
| full, double-faced wreaths except for our vehicle | | | | can make a lot more money making wreaths and so |
| wreath. | | | | garland is harder to find. Demand for balsam fir |
| Our 24” wreath weighs about 6 lbs and our | | | | Christmas products is increasing every year. It is the |
| 30” wreath weighs about 8 lbs. A double-faced | | | | most fragrant of all the firs with the smell most |
| wreath has the balsam tips attached to both sides of | | | | associated with Christmas. Also, it’s natural and |
| the wreath ring making a much fuller wreath. We have | | | | sustainable and artificial, plastic wreaths are viewed as |
| a customer who has us decorate both sides of her | | | | tacky and they sure don’t smell like Christmas. |
| wreath because she hangs it on a glass door where it | | | | |