Christmas trees may be hard to find this year, experts say
Finding the perfect tree may be hard to come by this year, experts say.
As many get into the holiday spirit before Thanksgiving this year, the combination of labor shortages and the effects of climate change may make it more difficult for people to find a tree.
In Valley View, Ohio, Phil Londrico, founder of Londrico's Christmas Trees, said labor shortages and trucking costs bring their shortest season in a five decade history.
"What happens is we got to cut all of our customers down just to keep them," Londrico told "Good Morning America." "They're not all going to get their orders."
And at This Place is For the Birds, a garden center in Colorado Springs, which sells 500 trees every year around this time of the year, their supplier closed so they have no trees to sell."The owner told us they had a hard time finding cutters this year," For the Birds owner, Ronald Perry, told "GMA." "Also finding transportation to get the trees was really difficult so they just decided to quit doing it."
In Oregon, where 6.1 million trees are planted each year and about 4.1 million are harvested, climate change has exacerbated natural droughts and heat. Many trees were decimated in the Beaver State -- which is the No. 1 producer of trees in the U.S. -- earlier this summer by the record-setting heat and killed more than 10% of the Christmas tree population.
Christmas tree growers note that it takes eight to 10 years for a Christmas tree to develop, so the loss from the heat events of 2021 will be felt this year and for the next decade -- possibly even beyond, as these heat events continue to occur.
Experts say that California and other western states will feel the biggest strain as they receive 55% of Oregon's Christmas tree exports. They added that consumers should be prepared to pay more for their trees and see a smaller selection.
To make sure you have a tree this year, experts suggest purchasing your tree early.
"I think everyone will be able to get a tree," Tim O'Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association, told "GMA." "If you want choice, go early. Be flexible. If the place you normally buy your tree doesn't have what you want, or might be sold out early, look for another place. There'll be one and maybe consider a different type of tree."
While some may turn to purchasing a faux tree, experts also say that buying artificial isn't the solution. Finding a fake tree this year may also be harder as supply chain issues continue to impact imports. It may also be expensive.
"Consumers are going to see this year a 10 to 30% increase in price depending on the tree, depending on the retailer, frankly, depending on how big the tree is," Balsam Hill CEO Mac Harman, said. "That said, what I'm really concerned about is actually for Christmas '22. And so for the consumer, it actually might be a much better deal to buy this year."
