171250_VCTGA_WinterNL_2019_PROOF

• The top selling #VaGrownChrist- mas trees are: balsam fir, Doug- las-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine, and white pine. Which is your favorite?? • After you purchase your #Va- GrownChristmas tree, caring for it is easy. Here are some helpful tips. (link to tips) • Buy a #VaGrownChristmas tree, snap a picture, post it on your so- cial media and tag it with #Va- GrownChristmas. Search for #VirginiaGrown Christmas tree growers at VirginiaGrown.com. After you purchase your #Va- GrownChristmas tree, caring for it is easy. Here are some helpful tips. #VirginiaGrown Multimedia Collection & More Information at http://www.vdacs.vir- ginia.gov/media-social-me- dia-tool-kit.shtml • Graphics • Caring for a fresh cut tree (pdf) • Caring for a live tree (pdf) • Environmental Benefits of a Real Christmas Tree (pdf) • Virginia Grown

VDACS – Virginia Grown Christmas Trees PR Campaign

VDACS - SOCIAL MEDIA TOOL KIT

[This is one of the news releases and social media promotions that VDACS sent out for Christmas tree growers and retailers.] Spread the word about Virginia Grown Christmas Trees, it's simple and easy! Join the social media con- versation today by posting any of the images, prepared messages below or create your own message and post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Don't forget to use #VaGrownChrist- mas and #VirginiaGrown. For more engaging content, buy a #VaGrown Christmas tree, snap a picture with your family, post it on your social media and tag it with #Va- GrownChristmas. Encourage your friends and followers to do the same. Social Media Messages • Make great family memories this weekend by packing up the kids and getting a #VaGrownChrist- mas tree. Search for #VirginiaG- rown Christmas tree growers at VirginiaGrown.com. • For every #VaGrownChristmas tree harvested, there are two to three seedlings planted in its place. Help keep Virginia Green this holiday season! • Support Virginia Farmers and boost the local economy this hol- iday season by purchasing a #Va- GrownChristmas tree. • Nothing says Christmas like a #VaGrownChristmas tree. Search for #VirginiaGrown Christmas tree growers at VirginiaG- rown.com. • Celebrate Virginia Christmas tree month with a beautiful #Va- GrownChristmas tree. Search for #VirginiaGrown Christmas tree growers at VirginiaGrown.com.

We are overseeing a public relations campaign to promote awareness and purchase of Virginia Grown Christ- mas Trees this holiday season. Part of this campaign will utilize social me- dia to generate organic conversations of the beauty and benefits of Virginia Grown Christmas trees. This is where we could really use your help. We have created a website, http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/me- dia-social-media-tool-kit.shtml , that we would like for Virginia growers to use as a guide to generate post on their social media channels. They don't have to use the contents verbatim, but we would love for everyone to use #VaGrownChristmas on their social media post. In addition, we are hoping that they will encourage their custom- ers to post a picture of their decorated tree on their social media channels and use #VaGrownChristmas. The benefit of using this hashtag is that we can track how many times it was used and the audience it reaches. Contact for the website: Michael Wal- lace, Assistant Director of Communica- tions, Va. Dept. of Agriculture and Con- sumer Services, Richmond VA 23219, 804.786.1904, michael.wallace@vdacs.virginia.gov

VCTGA News Journal ‒ Winter 2019 VCTGA News Journal – Winter 2019

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