The Christmas tree industry, much like other industries, is battling with supply chain irregularities and inflationary pressures as the United States grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and the Biden admin’s poor handling of the economic recovery.
“This year, I’ve gotten a lot of calls from people either asking about the shortage, asking if we’re sold out, asking [if] we have any of the Fraser fir because they can’t find one anywhere else,” said Matthew Gallery, owner of Almost Heavenly Christmas Trees in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Gallery told the Washington Examiner that his primary wholesaler gave him more than 2,000 trees last year but could only part with about 1,100 this year. To make up for the shortage and buy more trees, Gallery went to an auction that is conducted each year in Pennsylvania in which tens of thousands of trees are offloaded in what is regarded as the world’s largest Christmas tree auction. He said prices there were through the roof compared to past years.
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“Auction prices were more than double what they were last year,” he said. “At the last minute, I had to raise our retail prices. As I’m out there bidding on these trees at the auction, I’m logged in to our system to do that. So we had to raise our prices significantly.”
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One problem affecting supply and prices is a trucker shortage. Chris Spear, the president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, lately announced the industry is now below a record high of about 80,000 drivers.
This year’s extreme weather on the West Coast has not aided the condition. Oregon and Washington, major sources of the country’s Christmas trees, felt the shock of the record-breaking weather over the summer.
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Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association, said the combination of factors caused supply to diminish this holiday season.
“It’s a double whammy — weather and supply chain problems are really hampering the industry,” Warner said. “Growers have been hard hit by floods, fires, smoke, drought, extreme weather conditions.”
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Ergle Christmas Tree Farm in Florida is also having a Christmas tree shortage. Owner Tony Harris said Christmas tree prices have increased by about 30% from last year.
Harris and his wife have been selling Christmas trees from their Dade City location for 35 years. During an interview with the Washington Examiner, Harris explained that he “got lucky” and actually secured an oversupply of trees this year because of his longtime connections in the industry. Despite his store faring better than his competitors with supply, Harris said he has been forced to raise prices.
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