Demand for Christmas trees booms as gloomy year of COVID-19 needs some jollying

Canadians planning to buy a live Christmas tree this season should start shopping now and expect to pay more, the Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association says.

Farmers anticipate 2020 will be a record sales year. Association head Larry Downey says it's simple supply and demand: a shortage of trees coupled with a greater appetite from people hoping to liven up their living spaces thanks towidespread stay-at-home orders.

"Personally, we don't see COVID affecting us," saidDowney, whose family farm in Hatley, Que., sells up to 30,000 Christmas trees each year.

Most wholesale farmers Downey has spoken withthis year have already reached sales records, with much of the demand coming from vendors in the United States. Retailers typically place their orders for trees as early as June, Downey says.

The Christmas tree market is still feeling the effects of the Great Recession of more than a decade ago, which put many U.S. growers out of business and led others to reduce planting.

Since saplings take eight to 10 years to reach the size of a typical Christmas tree, the effects of the lower supply have only recently emerged.

In turn, the shortage has pushed prices up. Downey saidChristmas trees are retailing for about $5 more this year, continuing a trend that has been ongoing for several years.

The average price of a tree rose 123 per cent to $78 US in 2018 from $35 US in 2013, according to the U.S. National Christmas Tree Association.

Prices up in Canada, too

Prices are on the rise in Canada as well.

Stephane Bernier, who runs Plantation Bernier in Lac-Brome, Que., and Bronwyn Harper, who co-owns the Hillcrest Tree Farm near Ottawa, both saidthey've raised Christmas tree pricesthis year.

It's a similar story in Sudbury, where an annual charity fundraisersold 100 Christmas trees within an hour of opening.

"It was insane," organizer Kerry Radey told CBC. "Never, never has it been like that."

On top of the shortage, tree sellers say they are expecting strong demand from consumers looking for an outdoor, physically distanced activity and who want to add some holiday cheer to their homes, where people are spending more time due to a second wave of COVID-19.

The pandemic has already led to some greater-than-expected spending in the home improvement market, a trend that could bode well for Christmas tree sales.

Demandhigh for Fraser firs

Some tree varieties such as Fraser firs, prized for their pleasant fragrance and excellent needle retention, are even more sought after.

Harper saidshe's selling Fraser firs for around $85 $20 more than last year after her supplier raised prices. She saidshe can't grow Fraser firs herself because of the terrain on her property.

Quebec produces millions of Christmas trees. So why is supply so tight?

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Quebec produces millions of Christmas trees. So why is supply so tight?

In Calgary,Plantation Garden Centre saidit can't keep up with demand for Fraser Firs specifically. "There are lots that are just not opening because they can't get a Fraser fir," owner Colin Atter told CBC in an interview.

The anticipated demand for Christmas trees has sparked a rush by some retailers to purchase more trees wholesale.

Phil Quinn, the co-owner of Quinn Farm near Montreal, saidhe had to buy additional trees from wholesalers to sell at his farm since he didn't grow enough on his own property to meet the demand he expects this year.

Harper saidshe's received many calls from people looking for wholesale trees, although she only sells to retail customers.

"Everyone wants a tree and they want it now," saidQuinn, who expects to be sold out of trees by the second week of December.

Fewer tree-related activities

But while demand for trees is expected to be strong, the pandemic has created its own set of challenges for tree vendors.

Most sellers will not be able to offering the same set of attractions this year, with physical distancing requirements forcing farms to scrap additional draws such as wagon rides and fire pits.

Harper saidher biggest challenge this year will be developing clear distancing guidelines for people picking up trees. The farm's owners won't allow people to bring their dogs, for example, nor will they offer horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides.

Rather than serving hot apple cider, Hillcrest Tree Farm will be giving people treats to take away when they leave.

"What might have been a one-hour visit will be a shorter visit this year," Harper said.

Similarly, Serge Lapointe, the owner of Plantation JLS in Sainte-Angele-de-Monnoir, Que., saidhis farm won't have anywhere for Christmas tree buyers to congregate this year, unlike in previous years when it offered visitors rides and the chance to take a photo with Santa Claus.

Ordering online an option

One aspect of the Christmas tree market to watch this year will be how lockdown orders affect how people buy trees, including whether they go in person to pick them up or order them online, saidPaul Quinn (no relation to Phil Quinn), an analyst at RBC Dominion Securities who studies Christmas tree sales from year to year.

Retail tree vendors could face some competition from large online players: On their websites, Home Depot and Walmart both list natural Fraser Fir trees for sale, available for delivery before Christmas.

A search on Amazon's website revealed no results for natural Christmas trees, although the company offers a variety of artificial trees for sale.

But Phil Quinn saidpeople are looking to take advantage of the chance to pick out their own tree in person, noting his farm is seeing greater interest in its choose-and-cut option, even with Quebec at its highest COVID-19 alert level.

"People are just asking for some kind of normalcy," hesaid.