Getting a Christmas Tree Might Be a Problem This Year
Getting a Christmas tree might be a problem this year. Between the drought, pandemic supply-chain issues, and wild fires a perfect storm is shaping up that may affect your ability to get a Christmas tree this year.
Growers of Christmas trees are lamenting the high-heat summer weather that is affecting their tree farms. The New York Times reports that Oregon, one of the largest producers of Christmas trees in the nation, is especially hard hit. But the recent “heat dome” over the Pacific Northwest is affecting all growers in the region:
The story for California Christmas tree growers is similar – if not worse. Because of the drought, and the heat, growers are concerned for having Christmas trees for the next several years.
In other parts of the country the worries for Christmas trees in 2021 range from not having employees available to cut down trees to not having shipments of new trees arrive before Christmas. The supply-chain woes were a problem last Christmas with the pandemic but it appears shipping concerns have not yet cleared up – and time is running short.
Demand for Christmas trees is expected to remain high, mostly due to the inability to supply new trees last year as projected.
Supply chain and shipping issues are also increasing prices. Toy stores are already saying they are short and Matel, one of the largest makers of toys, has warned of significant price increases due to the shortage of materials and cost overruns that were not anticipated.
In fact, some experts are saying that Christmas shopping should happen earlier this year because nearly every category of products related to Christmas could be in short supply.
Even pumpkin this year could be hard to fine, either fresh or canned. Weather is again the culprit. In the west, it’s the drought. In the east, it is all the moisture combined with the high heat that is killing the pumpkin crops. Weather has already killed crops in Connecticut, Illinois and Alabama. Smaller crops are expect all throughout the west.
Underscoring all these concerns is the labor shortage seemingly affecting retailers from coast-to-coast.
It all adds up to Christmas 2021 being a season to really be prepared.
I’m glad I have an artificial tree. I know some people freak out about that, but it saves a tree from being cut down just to adorn my living room for a couple of weeks. Plus, I don’t have anything to worry about as far as finding one this year. On the other hand, not having pumpkins for Halloween or Thanksgiving does make me a wee bit nervous. :oops::eek:
Thanks for the article!
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[QUOTE=”DixieBelle, post: 1339833, member: 7989″]
I’m glad I have an artificial tree. I know some people freak out about that, but it saves a tree from being cut down just to adorn my living room for a couple of weeks. Plus, I don’t have anything to worry about as far as finding one this year. On the other hand, not having pumpkins for Halloween or Thanksgiving does make me a wee bit nervous. :oops::eek:
Thanks for the article!
+h
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I imagine artificial trees could be in short supply, too. Most are manufactured overseas and would be subject to the same manufacturing and distribution stresses other goods are suffering.
[QUOTE=”MerryCarey, post: 1339846, member: 5065″]
I imagine artificial trees could be in short supply, too. Most are manufactured overseas and would be subject to the same manufacturing and distribution stresses other goods are suffering.
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They are. I’ve actually talked to Bronners, Walmart, Target and today I should hook up with Hobby Lobby and Lowe’s. All are saying the same thing. They don’t know if they are getting all the trees they have ordered.
That’s a hard blow.
And if you have an artificial tree, I imagine getting new light strings if some are dead will also be difficult.
It’s shaping up to be the kind of Christmas that we will have to make festive with spirit more than with material things. Just as COVID lockdowns forced people to examine what was really important in their lives, the shortages will force us to examine what really makes Christmas what it is.
My personal feeling is that people really won’t care. Last Christmas deprived them of people – family members, their elderly folk, seeing cousins and grandkids and neighbors and friends.
Folks will make do if they can see those they love.
Thank you for sharing this article! I was hoping to get a real tree this year (I never had one; I always put up an artificial tree) but it might not happen due to this. I feel bad for the tree farmers! I hope they’ll still have a good winter season despite the low tree supply
I never thought about artificial trees being in short supply. I bought a reaally expensive one year before last and it’s still in great shape. I am thankful for that. I’ve also got a shorter artificial tree that has only been used once. Maybe I could donate that one to someone local that can’t find/afford one….if they want it.:locotree
[QUOTE=”DixieBelle, post: 1340205, member: 7989″]
I never thought about artificial trees being in short supply. I bought a reaally expensive one year before last and it’s still in great shape. I am thankful for that. I’ve also got a shorter artificial tree that has only been used once. Maybe I could donate that one to someone local that can’t find/afford one….if they want it.:locotree
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That is a very kind idea!
We were just talking about real trees a week or so ago. As much as I would love to go Christmas tree hunting and find that perfect tree, I’m way too nervous about a real tree. I live in the west and we are in such terrible drought conditions that I worry that trees will be way to dry to even survive a few weeks.
[QUOTE=”Christmas24/7, post: 1341371, member: 5659″]
We were just talking about real trees a week or so ago. As much as I would love to go Christmas tree hunting and find that perfect tree, I’m way too nervous about a real tree. I live in the west and we are in such terrible drought conditions that I worry that trees will be way to dry to even survive a few weeks.
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For real. They import trees from Oregon here every year and I wouldn’t even touch one of those. It is going to be tough to be in the real tree business for a few years.