Agriculture Secretary Joins Government Officials, Agriculture Industry to Collect... (Thu Dec 6, 2007 11:59am EST)

Agriculture Secretary Joins Government Officials, Agriculture Industry toCollect Plants, Christmas Trees for TroopsHARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Landscaping plants,Christmas trees, holiday decorations and clothing donated by Pennsylvanianurseries and state employees will help make troops in Iraq feel more at home,Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said today.Various bare root landscaping plants, more than 30 evergreens, boxes ofornaments and agricultural clothing were shipped from a "Plants for Troops"event held today at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, which included Wolff,Major General Jessica Wright of the Department of Military and VeteransAffairs, Representative Tim Solobay, Gregg Robertson of the PennsylvaniaLandscape & Nursery Association, Jerry Yeatman of the Pennsylvania MushroomGrowers Association, Jeff Thompson of Eaton Farms and Fred Strathmeyer ofStrathmeyer Forest."I am grateful that commonwealth employees and the agriculture industry couldcome together to send our hardworking military men and women hearty plants andtrees this holiday season," said Wolff. "Thanks to their donations, ourtroops may find increased comfort on their tour of duty."Eaton Farms in Leesport, Berks County, provided bare root plants for theirability to grow in desert conditions. The landscaping plants will be plantedaround two military bases in Baghdad. Christmas trees from Strathmeyer Forest will also be distributed to the basesfor display during the holiday season. Pennsylvania state employees from theagriculture department and House of Representatives donated tree stands andornaments for use with the trees. Agricultural clothing, including shirts and hats, was donated by thePennsylvania Mushroom Growers Association.Mushroom growers and the 213th Family Support Group contributed shipping costsof the plants and trees, while the Pennsylvania Farm Show providedtransportation to the freight terminal. The Pennsylvania Landscape andNursery Association helped organize the event.