All This Snow Is Making It Hard To Find…Christmas Trees
The economic collapse of 2009 is also partially to blame.
With winter's early arrival, the need to search for the perfect Christmas tree is ramping up equally as early. However, finding a tree for 2018 may prove difficult. New Brunswick, a major exporter of Christmas trees has been buried under snow, making it difficult for them to get trees onto trucks for shipment. In addition, according to WCSH News Center Maine, a market imbalance started roughly ten years ago. In 2008, there were almost too many Christmas trees, and combined with the Great Recession drove many growers out of business. Fast forward to this year, and the supply is tight, as it takes eight to 10 years to grow a Christmas tree.. Also, a spring frost damaged trees in Nova Scotia, choking off some supply in the Northeast.
Not everyone is having a hard time. Most large retailers have been able to escape this issue. However, many smaller charitable organizations, school groups, and mom & pop operators that have had to scramble for trees. News Center Maine reported the American Legion in Dover, Massachusetts, also had to search for nearly five hundred trees for its annual fundraiser. "It's getting tough," said Tom McGill, who oversees the effort.