Once again, the media and right leaning press is turning something good into something bad.
It’s not a tax that consumers will pay! If is a fee that we Christmas tree growers will pay to promote our product. 15 cents for every tree I sell will go to a check-off system to promote Christmas trees. (and in my case, this fee WILL NOT be passed on to the consumer, because 15 cents per tree is less per tree than I pay for fertilizer per tree each year!)
We Christmas tree growers have been trying for several years to start a Christmas Tree Check-off program. What is a check-off? Have you ever heard the phrase “Got milk?” or “Beef, it’s whats for dinner” or “Pork, the other white meat.” Those are slogans that are used to promote agricultural products as a result of USDA check-off systems paid for by dairy, beef, and pork producers. The USDA regulates the programs but they are paid for by the producers.
So, once again….this is not an Obama Christmas tree tax!
