| California's Hardwood
Industry - Why now? Since the 1800's
California's timber industry has been based on harvesting giant redwoods. During
1940's and 50's the introduction of new technologies (chainsaws, bulldozers, loaders, and
logging trucks) capable of harvesting these giant trees enabled timber harvesting
operations to access redwood resources which were relatively inaccessible up to that time.
A booming market for new homes in the post WWII economy, coupled
with these new harvesting methods also created a market for Douglas fir, which was
considered a marginal resource until this new context emerged.
In the late 50's and early 60's Mal Coombs' hardwood mill in nearby
Piercy, California succeeded in overcoming the technical difficulties in establishing a
hardwood processing concern in the heart of a large and dominant softwood timber
industry. Many local homes, restaurants, and institutions built during the early
60's have floors, trim, and paneling which are a testament to his success.
After the WWII boom years the introduction of synthetic carpeting
and linoleum reduced the market for hardwood flooring by 90 percent. Caught in the downturn in demand for hardwood flooring, Coombs' mill went
out of business.
Now, most of the virgin softwood timber is harvested. While
the timber industry is making a transition to managing and processing second growth
softwood timber, much of the regrowth in formerly dense
softwood forests is in hardwoods. The desire to restore forest stand structure to
pre-industrial species distributions has encouraged conscientious forest managers to take
a closer look at the hardwood resource.
Western hardwood markets are again expanding.
People appreciate the character and natural beauty of quality
wood products, and concerns about healthy home and institutional
environments, are driving a thriving market for solid hardwood products from flooring to furniture.
Concerns regarding the sustainabiliy of forest management practices
are also encouraging consumers to shop carefully and to choose
wood products from certified
sustainable sources.
Increasing knowledge and appreciation of
western hardwoods species, opens the door to a new era in west
coast hardwood utilization, and sustainable forest management.
Whitethorn Hardwoods
is at the forefront of this new effort offering processing
services, chain of custody documentation for certified
products, business to business sales, and retail sales to
this growing local industry.
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