HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Rotary Club met for its luncheon meeting on Monday, Oct. 15. Rotarian Tammie Mulvey hosted Arthur “Arty “ Mingo from Mingo’s Evergreen products of Robbinston.
Mingo is the incoming vice president of the Christmas Tree Association of Maine. His family has lived in that area for many years. Mingo’s father Alden started the business in 1958 selling wreaths, garlands and other holiday products. Mingo bought his first blueberry barren as a 16-year-old in an attempt to diversify the family business.
In 1992, seeing that tests on some family land proved to be perfect for cranberry growth, they started the permitting process to grow cranberries. The original application was rejected in Augusta so Mingo hired a lawyer and went on to Washington D.C. and received a permit in 1995.
Now, Mingo’s of Maine grows, or manufactures over 25 products. Over 400 million wreaths are sold throughout the holiday season in the United States. Needing more tips (the ends of branches) from Balsam trees, Mingo’s has invested in land to prepare for the growth of Balsam fir trees so that the business has the material to continue to make their products.
In 2019, they will break ground for grapes so they can also develop a winery. Another project that Mingo began eight years ago originated because his son was born with a rare blood disorder and spent much of his time in hospital. At appointments, the family would see other parents of children with similar issues and then they would not see them again. Later that child’s name and picture would be added to the wall showing children who did not survive.
Mingo wanted to change the way that research was done to improve the lives of people living with cancer. His thought was to develop a prototype wreath of the cancer ribbon and have the wreath adorned with ribbon the color that the families’ cancer diagnosis represented.
It took him six months to get the shape right followed by another two years to obtain a patent and to trademark the wreath. By 2011 the patent was secured. “Wreaths for Hope” was founded with 42 cancer support groups partnering with Mingo’s.
Non-profit cancer groups are not allowed to sell a third party’s product so Mingo’s made them all partners. Three years ago, the first cancer awareness wreath was sold. Today demand is so strong that Mingo’s is reaching out to other wreath companies as far west as Michigan to help with the demand.
There is an article about this effort at http://bangordailynews.com/bdn-maine/community/wreaths-for-hope-sales-to-benefit-maine-cancer-foundation/
