Challenge: Search for perfect Christmas tree
MONTPELIER, Vt. — People may need to trim back their Christmas tree expectations this year.
A tight supply means some shoppers will be paying more and searching longer for that perfect tree this holiday season. But there’s no need for panic buying on Black Friday — industry experts say consumers will end up with something to decorate this holiday season.
The yuletide market imbalance was created a decade ago when a glut of Christmas trees and the Great Recession combined to drive many growers out of business. Now the supply is tight, and it will take eight to 10 years — the time needed to grow a Christmas tree — to boost the supply.
“It’s bad. It’s the worst I’ve seen in a long time,” said Matthew LaCasce, co-owner of the Finestkind Christmas tree farm in DoverFoxcroft, Maine. The farm sells about 10,000 trees each season and is turning down orders every day from desperate retailers, Mr. LaCasce said.
Larger retailers are doing just fine, officials said. It’s the smaller charitable organizations, school groups and mom-and-pop operators that have had to scramble for trees.
In Hawaii, Christmas tree seller Richard Tajiri said he ended up 1,000 trees short this season.
“It’s going to be tough for everybody. There’s nothing you can do about it,” said Mr. Tajiri, who is fielding several dozen calls a day in Honolulu. “It’s first come, first served.”
Lovell’s Florist and Nursery in Medford, Mass., resorted to a hodgepodge of suppliers from Canada, North Carolina and the West Coast because the regular wholesaler couldn’t deliver, owner LaVerne Lovell said. The business was expecting its final 1,000 trees to be delivered Friday.
“It was about two days of complete panic,” she said. “The Christmas season carries us through the winter. If we don’t have any trees, it would’ve been a real nightmare.”
The American Legion in Dover, Mass., also had to search high and low for 450 trees for its annual fundraiser. “It’s getting tough,” said Tom McGill, who oversees the effort.