International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Conference 2026

North Carolina State University – Whitehill Christmas Tree Genetics Lab is honored and excited to host the 17th IUFRO International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Conference to be held at the Meadowbrook Inn, Blowing Rock, NC from Sunday, June 7 to Friday, June 12, 2026.

The IUFRO International Christmas Tree Research and Extension (CTRE) Conference is a biennial event that brings together international researchers and industry professionals to discuss Christmas tree cultivation, genetics, pest management, and post-harvest quality.

We are also pleased to host the USDA-NIFA A GIFT SEED project annual meeting ahead of the conference. Project members will sign up for the registration options that include “A GIFT SEED.” We will arrive a day early (June 6) and hold meetings on Sunday, June 7. 

The conference theme is Christmas Tree research including genetics/genomics/breeding, tree pests and diseases, production and cultivation, aroma and post-harvest traits, extension, economics and marketing.

We highly encourage participants to join us in North Carolina. Networking and informal exchange of ideas and potential collaboration are one of the main objectives of this conference. We also welcome new researchers, extension agents and students interested in Christmas trees.

Please click here to REGISTER.

Please contact the following with any questions:

Justin Whitehill: jwhiteh2@ncsu.edu

Angela Chiang: achiang@ncsu.edu

Janice Sitzes: jdsitzes@ncsu.edu