Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Saturday 21 december 2019
'Shop early': US Christmas trees supplies tight, prices up

By JOHN RABY need to be aware that if
Associated Press they're really looking for a
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — big tree, they need to go
Customers searching for out and find it pretty quick-
the perfect Christmas tree ly."
typically glance at Sandy Missouri Christmas Tree As-
Parsons' limited offerings, sociation President Steve
then keep walking. Meier said that by late De-
Parsons never got her order cember, "there's still going
for 350 trees from a North to be Christmas trees left
Carolina farm. Supplies that haven't been chosen."
were short, she was told. The supply issue goes all the
Instead, she was shipped way up the chain.
some smaller ones for her Oregon has the highest an-
lot at the Capitol Market nual production of Christ-
in Charleston. Those paled mas trees, followed by
in comparison to the much North Carolina and Michi-
taller beauties at a com- gan. In Oregon, where
petitor's lot next door. some tree farms com-
"This has been the worst In this Nov. 29, 2018, file photo, Tommy Lee, a sixth-generation tree farmer at Lee Farms in Tualatin, prise thousands of acres,
season," Parsons said. "We Ore., helps Jason Jimenez and his sons carry the Douglas fir they selected off the tree lot. Kirchem Farm owner Cher
lost a lot of money by that. Associated Press Tollefson in Oregon City
It sets you back two or three Parsons has been in busi- An oversupply of trees Despite such challenges, closed her 100-acre busi-
years." ness for 42 years as a sea- about a decade ago Smith isn't looking for other ness this holiday season for
Christmas tree supplies sonal seller of flowers, pro- caused a domino effect ways to make a living. the first time in nearly three
are tight again this year duce, pumpkins — and this nationwide. Subsequently, "I hope they find me fell over decades, citing a lack of
across the United States, year, just 32 Christmas trees. fewer trees were cut down, dead in the tree patch," he trees.
depending upon location "I can tell you how many I which meant not as many said. "That's the way I really "Our trees need a year to
and seller. The industry is still didn't buy: 350," said Par- seedlings were planted want to go." grow," Tollefson said.
bouncing back from the sons, whose disappoint- to replace them. Hot, dry Smith's trees have graced The number of Christmas
Great Recession and trying ment has been tempered weather also took its toll, homes across the North tree farms nationwide fell
to win people back from a by robust wreath sales. forcing many growers to Carolina foothills and up 3% between 2012 and
shift toward artificial trees In the next lot, Robert Cole close. to the White House. He 2017, the latest year avail-
when times were especially was having a jolly ole time Larry Smith, who has been said he's having his best able, according to the U.S.
tough. preparing an abundance selling Fraser firs from the year ever and doesn't fore- Department of Agriculture.
Industry officials say not to of trees for loading onto same lot in Lenoir, North see running out. When his According to the National
worry: Everyone who wants customers' vehicles. Carolina, for 40 years, and supply dwindles, his team Christmas Tree Association,
a last-minute tree should The difference? Cole's lot, second-generation Christ- heads up the mountain to a real tree last year cost
be able to find one. It just French Creek Farms of mas tree farmer Mike Rood harvest more. $78 on average, up $3 from
might take a little more Buckhannon, grows its own of Hermann, Missouri, said In Missouri, Rood buys pre- 2017.
searching, especially if trees. some farmers' adult chil- cut trees not native to the At the Charleston market,
customers want a specific dren aren't as eager to state to supplement the customer Bob Atkins of
type, and you might have Gesturing toward the lots of take over the family busi- short supply. This year, his Madison noticed not only
to pay a little more. Parsons and another com- ness, leading to a labor farm couldn't buy as many that prices are higher but
The best advice, said Amy petitor, he explained his shortage. taller trees as it wanted. "there's not as many as usu-
Start, executive director brisk business in the simplest "A lot of the farmers have "The bigger trees in particu- al."
of the Michigan Christmas economic terms: "Because gotten older and their kids lar at this stage in the game He was near the point
Tree Association, is simple: there's been no trees here realize there's an easier are going to be harder to of settling for an artificial
"Shop early." and no trees over there." way to life," Smith said. find," Rood said. "So they tree when he and his wife,
Jane, found the right tree
after about 20 minutes on
Cole's lot.
"I do not want an artificial
tree," Jane Atkins said with
a smile. "We will fight over
that!"
Artificial Christmas trees
now represent 70% of all
trees in U.S. homes. The
Denver-based National
Christmas Tree Association
is trying to change that,
mainly by appealing to a
sense of tradition among
millennials.
"Young families are our
bread and butter," said
Doug Hundley, the group's
spokesman. "It's important
to that group of adults
In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, fog drifts through a Christmas tree farm near Starks Mountain in Fryeburg, Maine. to have that real tree
Associated Press
experience."q