Nearly half of the 800,000 Christmas trees produced by Irish growers this year will be exported to Britain, France and Germany, according to figures released today.
An Bord Bia said 420,000 trees will be cut for sale at a total retail value of €14.7 million. Export values will rise to €5.7 million in 2006 from €5.2 million this year, the food industry body said.
The figures were released today at a presentation of a Christmas tree to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern by Christy Kavanagh of Kavanagh Christmas Tree Farms, who won the supreme growers champion award at the recent Kildare Growers Show.
Joe Flynn, chairman of Irish Christmas Tree Growers said the quality of this year's harvest is "excellent".
"It is also important to note when considering which tree to purchase that real Irish Christmas trees are environmentally friendly as they can be recycled, while the land used for growing them can be replanted or returned to traditional agricultural practices," he said.
Bord Bia said the average tree should retail at around €10 per metre.