Local tree growers tout good season
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Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Mackenzie Manherz (left) and Rachel Parks of Duncansville search for a Christmas tree Friday at JB Tree Farm in Alexandria. The Christmas tree industry has a long history in Pennsylvania, as the state ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas tree farms with more than 1,400, said Michelle Keyser of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association.
The National Christmas Tree Association is confident that everyone looking for a real Christmas tree this year will have no problem finding one even though the market is "tight."
"It might be a good idea to make the annual adventure, picking out a real tree this year, in early December rather than the last minute," spokesman Doug Hundley said.
The reason for the tight market is supply and demand.
"Surprising to most, it takes Christmas tree growers about 10 years to grow a 7- to 8-foot Christmas tree. In 2007, we were in the beginning of the Great Recession. Christmas tree sales started a downward turn, and so did tree prices," Hundley said. "During the following year(s), Christmas tree growers did not have the room available from normal harvesting, nor the revenue to plant as many trees as they would have, if sales had been better. The result, 10 years later, is today's smaller supply."
Nationally, 27.4 million real trees with a value of $2.04 billion were sold last year, Hundley said.
The tight market is not expected to last.
"We do not expect the tight market to last but a couple of more years, and buying an artificial tree made in China is never the solution," Hundley said. "The American Christmas tree growers have been working hard for several years planting back a good supply of Christmas trees to meet or exceed the demand of future years."
The Christmas tree industry has a long history in Pennsylvania as the state ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas tree farms with more than 1,400, said Michelle Keyser of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association.
Those farms account for nearly 31,000 acres and produce about 1 million cut trees each year. Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the United States in the number of Christmas trees cut each year, Keyser said.
There is no lack of real trees available in the area.
"Our season has been very good. People talk about a shortage, but we don't have a shortage here. All look fine and healthy; it's been a better than usual season, growth wise," said Evelyn Bookhammer, co-owner of JB Tree Farm on Route 22 near Alexandria.
"I think there are a fair amount of trees available and not a shortage; there are plenty out there. It was a good season for us," said Hal Weston, owner of Weston's Nursery, Fallentimber.
Martha Weidensaul, co-owner of Tannenbaum Farms, Centre Hall, said it was a good growing season.
"We've had an excellent season. When we needed rain, we got rain. When we needed frost, we got frost. Frost is needed to harden the needles. We are in pretty good shape. Our customers seem to be enjoying them," Weidensaul said.
The sale of real Christmas trees has been on an upswing during the last few years because of the improving economy, Hundley said. Wholesale and retail prices have increased about 5 to 10 percent each of the last two years, he added.
Locally, most growers have kept their prices the same as last year.
However, Weidensaul said she increased prices by $5 to $45 for any pre-cut
tree for the first time since 2013.
The buyers' choice of trees has changed over the years, said Ed Parsons, owner of Parsons Tree Farm, Julian.
From the start of the 1970s, Scotch pine was the most popular. Then in the 1990s to 2000, it transitioned to Douglas fir. Now, the Fraser/Canaan trees are very popular, Parsons said.
Fraser fir is the No. 1 seller at Weston's and Tannenbaum.
"The biggest one in demand is Fraser fir. They have nice eye appeal and firm branches with soft needles -- then the Douglas fir," Weston said. "I have some concolor firs. I still sell some of them because the people like them. They have a nice citrusy smell and fairly firm branches. They are easy to put ornaments on them, easy to decorate."
"Fraser fir, without question. Nationwide, it has become the most popular tree because of its good needle retention. To some extent, it reminds people of the blue spruce because of its bushiness and number of branches; it also reminds people of the Scotch pine," Weidensaul said. "The next popular are concolor fir and balsam fir. Some people enjoy a white pine; we are not actively pursuing them any more. They don't hold ornaments well. I have just a few of them. Douglas fir has been a longtime popular tree in Pennsylvania; we don't have many of them."
However, Douglas fir is the most popular seller at JB Tree Farm.
"Douglas fir are popular because they have a beautiful shape; they are natural; they are easy to decorate. Fraser fir are also a very popular tree. They are thinner and have a tighter triangular shape," Bookhammer said.
Cutting your own tree has become more popular throughout the years. Weidensaul said about 75 percent of the trees sold at Tannebaum are cut-your-own trees. They all cost $45 regardless of size.
People are shopping for their Christmas tree earlier than in the past.
"For years, we didn't sell many the weekend after Thanksgiving, but the last two or three years, sales have been picking up. I just had the best weekend after Thanksgiving we've had in many years. Some of them were people who bought from us before and decided to get their tree early. The closer to Christmas, the more hectic it gets, but people seem to be going out and buying their trees earlier," Weston said.
"We had a lot of sales the weekend before Thanksgiving and a few even before that. It happens earlier every year. I thought with Thanksgiving being early, it would be the opposite. A lot of people prepare for Thanksgiving and put their tree up before then," Weidensaul said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.