All potential harvesters of white pine boughs on Crown land must first apply for a white pine pruning authorization letter from the district s forest health resource assistant. This letter of authorization prescribes harvesting procedures, establishes a harvesting schedule and designates harvesting areas. The letter of authorization, however, does not require the harvester to estimate the quantity to be harvested. The letter also does not require a security deposit, nor does it outline conditions for suspension or cancellation. The most widely sold botanical forest product in the United States is conifer boughs, used for making wreaths.
Many states have large wreath-making industries.
Throughout Minnesota hundreds of local bough harvesters sell to local buyers who represent bough and wreath companies. Not all wreath-making is dependent on the holiday market. Birch, ironwood and alder tops are examples of relatively new botanical forest products being harvested in Minnesota and other upper Midwest states. Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 tree tops are harvested annually. Artificial leaves are added to these tops before marketing.