The Seasons of Work

Year-Round at Wishon Evergreens

 

Here at Wishon Evergreens, we stay 

Johnny is the founder of Wishon Evergreens, the Christmas Tree Company, and co-founder of Appalachian Produce Company. After graduating from NC State University in 1988, he went straight to work after college to teach high school in Sparta, NC, growing a few hundred trees a year as a side business. Beginning in 1998, Johnny quit teaching and began growing trees full time.  Since then, the company has grown significantly. Now, over three decades have passed and Wishon Evergreens has expanded to grow over 1,000 acres of Christmas Trees and since 2011, over 400 acres of pumpkins. “We ship to garden centers and retailers up and down the east coast, almost every state east of the Mississippi will get a Christmas tree from us. I love that what we are doing is the centerpiece for somebody's Christmas, that is a pretty good feeling.”

 

Here at Wishon Evergreens, we stay busy year-round. There is always much to do, and every season brings its own important work.

(WINTER)

In January, we begin the year with trade shows. Johnny, Brad, and Garrett attend shows such as TPIE and MANTS, where they meet new customers, connect with existing ones, and proudly display our booth. These shows are a great opportunity to build relationships and share what Wishon Evergreens has to offer.

 

In the mountains of North Carolina, January, February, and March often bring plenty of snow. This is wonderful and beneficial for our Fraser fir Christmas trees, as the snow provides valuable moisture and helps nourish the trees during the winter months.

(SPRING)

In the spring, our crew of nearly 30 workers arrives, and the fields come to life. We begin planting Christmas trees, bringing young trees out of the cooler and into the fields. This is also a busy time for clipper work, as we trim trees affected by deer damage or frost damage. At the same time, our crews begin working in the greenhouses, and this work continues throughout the spring season.

Spring also brings a variety of seasonal products, including boxwood Easter wreaths and centerpieces, handcrafted by our talented design team.

(SUMMER)

As summer approaches, our spring planting is complete, and our baby trees have been seeded and placed into containers after several months of work. Then it is time to begin shearing.

Shearing starts in early July and continues into September, right as pumpkin season begins. To shear over a million trees, it takes our entire crew of 50 workers several months. Each tree is carefully shaped to ensure it looks its very best. We begin with white pines, then move to spruces, and lastly Fraser firs, which take the longest and require the most detailed clipper work.

Right before shearing begins, we plant our pumpkins. During the shearing season, we start to see our pumpkins, gourds, and corn grow across the fields.

(FALL)

The pumpkin harvest begins in September and lasts into early October. During this time, several crews, tractors, and equipment work throughout the fields collecting fall produce to be shipped to stores all along the East Coast.

From October through December, it is peak season here at Wishon Evergreens. We call this our “all hands on deck” season. Hundreds of people come in to help for several weeks, making wreaths, centerpieces, garland, and other greenery products. We also have tree-cutting crews working hard in the fields, along with a team that handmakes everything for our online shop.

All of our greenery and trees are cut fresh, and we make sure every product is carefully packaged for our customers’ homes or businesses. This is an incredible time at Wishon Evergreens. Our three warehouse locations and loading yard are full of trucks being loaded and sent out. While it can be a stressful season, it is also one of the most exciting and rewarding times of the year.

At Wishon Evergreens, we always strive to provide the freshest quality products possible. Whether it is the boxwood we grow, the Fraser firs we care for, our pumpkins, wreaths, garland, or any other product we offer, quality is always of the utmost importance.