A father-and-son tree farm in Jefferson, NC, supplied the nation’s Christmas tree this year. The 19-foot Fraser fir grown by Rusty and Beau Estes of Peak Farms was presented Nov. 23 to first lady Michelle Obama for display in the Blue Room at the White House. This is the 12th time a North Carolina grower has provided the nation’s Christmas tree, and prospects for a 30-million tree sales season nationwide were deemed bright.

Trees for Troops, a partnership among the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the National Christmas Tree Association and FedEx, will deliver more than 17,000 trees at 62 U.S. military bases in 2012. Most trees will go to military families at U.S. bases representing every branch of the armed services.

Soon after Thanksgiving, when parents go shopping and children start dreaming of sugarplums and candy canes, Shlomo Danieli turns his thoughts to Israel, and importing flowers from the country that made the desert bloom.

Traci Adams, vice president and general manager for Safeway corporate floral in Pleasanton, CA, was named 2012 Floral Marketer of the Year during the Oct. 27 Floral Networking Reception at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, CA.

MIAMI — A delegation from the Produce Marketing Association’s Floral Council met here Nov. 8 with about 50 floral industry executives seeking members to join this new arm of the PMA exclusively dedicated to floral.

The 2013 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition is expected to draw more than 6,000 industry professionals to sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL, Jan. 23-25 for the show’s 40th anniversary. The 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall will showcase lush tropical plants and foliage and palm trees soaring 28 feet to the ceiling.