DETROIT – The Make it a Real Michigan Christmas campaign is working to get families across the state to enrich their holidays by choosing Michigan-grown poinsettias and fragrant Michigan Christmas trees.
According to project organizers, the goal of the campaign is to rejuvenate sales and profitability by promoting the benefits of including real poinsettias and real Christmas trees in consumers' Christmas celebrations and the difference that these choices can truly make.
Three industry group partners -- Michigan Christmas Tree Association, Michigan Floriculture Growers Council and Michigan Floral Association -- in cooperation with Michigan State University Department of Horticulture have received notification that their USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant for $75,000 has been funded for a second year. The funding supports the project.
The campaign's key message is the impact of buying real products grown in Michigan. According to organizers, consumers have an economically, emotionally, and ecologically beneficial choice to preserve or build Christmas traditions.
The people behind the project said Michigan plays an important role in the production of trees and poinsettias. Not only can buying local make a big economic impact, but it can also stop the negative environmental implications of buying artificial trees and poinsettias.
New to the campaign his year, the Make it a Real Michigan Christmas is partnering with the Detroit Lions to bring Ford Field visitors the sights and smells of a Michigan-grown Christmas Tree, along with fresh, Michigan-grown poinsettia plants to the 132 Detroit Lions suite holders.
The grant will also fund a consumer website, public and media relations, public service announcements, point-of-purchase materials (banners, bench cards and stickers) for participating growers and retailers. All campaign components are designed to educate the consumer about the benefits of real trees and plants, organizers said.
For more information, go to www.RealMichiganChristmas.com or visit the campaign's Facebook page.