Page 25 - aruba-today-20181217

BUSINESS Monday 17 deceMber 2018
A25

Christmas tree farmers aim to boost sales via social media

By GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press
TUALATIN, Ore. (AP) — Rosa
Villarreal's three young sons
jumped and ran around
the field of Christmas trees
like jackrabbits, their ex-
citement palpable as they
raced from evergreen to
evergreen. The boys, ages
2, 4 and 6, were picking
out a real tree this year —
a new tradition their young
parents hope will create
lasting memories.
"I saw this video where the
big tree, the mom deco-
rates it, and the little tree,
the kids get to decorate it,"
she said, as her husband,
Jason Jimenez, snapped a
photo of their toddler pos-
ing with a tiny tree just his
size.
Christmas tree farmers
across the U.S. worry fami-
lies like Villarreal's are slowly
dwindling. Artificial trees,
once crude imitations of
an evergreen, are now so
realistic that it's hard to tell
they are fakes even though
many are conveniently
pre-strung with lights and In this Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, photo, a salesperson displays the price tag of an artificial Christmas tree at the Balsam Hill Outlet store
can fold up for storage at in Burlingame, Calif.
the push of a button. Associated Press
Between 75 and 80 percent
of Americans who have a ly worried that young adults ably, most of those are sold. "No one got as excited firs he grows at Silver Bells
Christmas tree now have starting their own family tra- Americans buy about 10 about a real tree as me, but Tree Farm in Silverton, Ore-
an artificial one, and the $1 ditions will opt for an artifi- million artificial trees each it was just too much work to gon. Oregon is the nation's
billion market for fake trees cial tree, costing farmers a year, said Thomas "Mac" put the real tree on my car, No. 1 producer of Christ-
is growing at about 4 per- generation of customers, Harman, CEO of Balsam Hill, get it into the house — all mas trees, yet Grogan says
cent a year — even though said Marsha Gray, execu- the leading retailer of arti- of that," she said. "It's totally he has watched about
they can be reused again tive director of the Christ- ficial Christmas trees. Har- for convenience." half the fellow tree farmers
and again. mas Tree Promotion Board, man is also the president Harman says Christmas tree around him go out of busi-
To combat this trend, based in Michigan. of the American Christmas farmers are overestimating ness in the past decade.
Christmas tree farmers "The target we're talking Tree Association, which the threat to their industry A seedling takes eight to 10
have joined forces as the about right now is millen- does not disclose its mem- from artificial trees. years to grow to maturity,
Christmas Tree Promotion nials: first house, first baby. bership but raised $70,000 Many families now have and it's difficult to predict
Board and are running a That's kind of the decision- in donations in 2016 for its both a real tree and an ar- demand years out, he said.
social media ad campaign making time," she said, work, which includes tout- tificial tree, and small mom- He harvested about half as
this holiday season to tout adding that the videos ing artificial trees. and-pop tree farms that al- many trees this year as he
the benefits of a real ev- show families cutting their Most people buying ar- low families to cut their own did a decade ago, and
ergreen. The campaign, own trees and buying pre- tificial trees cite conve- evergreen remain extreme- with every new seedling
called "It's Christmas. Keep cut trees from lots. nience, allergens and fire ly popular, Harman said. he plants this season, he
It Real!," is funded by a 15- "We realize they may have safety, he said. "I think it's the farms in the knows he's taking a gamble
cent fee that tree farmers never done this before. "We're seeing a trend where middle that are really see- that the demand will still be
pay for each tree they har- And we need to help them consumers want to set their ing their business shrink be- there in 2028.
vest. discover it and figure out tree up over Thanksgiving cause more people are ei- "We're an industry that
It's a modern-day attempt how to include it in their weekend and leave it up ther getting their tree from would like to remain here
at such famous agricultur- holiday." all the way until after New Home Depot — which is and be around — and if
al ad campaigns as "Got It's impossible to know ex- Year's." That's safer with an supporting the big farms everybody buys an artificial
Milk?" and "Beef. It's What's actly how many real Christ- artificial tree, Harman said. — or they're going out to tree, we're not going to be
For Dinner." mas trees are sold each Denise Shackleton got a these small farms," he said. here," said Grogan, who is
A series of short movies on year because there is no real tree each season be- "I think a lot of the angst also president of the Pacific
Instagram and Facebook central clearinghouse or fore switching to an artifi- about 'artificial trees are Northwest Christmas Tree
follow real families as they agency collecting that in- cial one. On a recent day, taking over' is coming from Association.
hunt for the perfect tree, formation. But the National she was at an artificial tree these mid-sized farms." "It may be a little difficult,
cut it down and decorate it. Christmas Tree Association outlet store in Burlingame, To fourth-generation tree but not everything is easy,"
The target audience is the estimates about 25 million California, shopping for a farmer Casey Grogan, that he added of buying a real
"millennial mom" because evergreens are harvested new tree for herself and angst is as real as the tow- tree. "It's worth the extra
tree farmers are increasing- each year — and presum- one for her daughter. ering noble and Nordmann effort."q