Holiday headache: Christmas trees in short supply, cost more this year in Sask.
CBC
If you still haven't found the right Christmas tree for your home, retailers and industry experts say you should act sooner rather than later.
The trees are once again in short supply this year, which some say is due to increased demand.
According to the Canadian Christmas Trees Association, the industry has boomed in Saskatchewan in just the past few years. It was worth about $606,000 in 2017, but had grown to $1.3 million in 2021.
Judy Gilmour, who owns Gilmour Tree Farm near Lumsden, just northwest of Regina, says this year has been her busiest yet since opening three years ago. She's sold out of her stock of 50 trees.
Families "want to have that experience of tromping through the field and finding their perfect Christmas tree," said Gilmour.
Geordie McKay has seen the same popularity this year. He estimates he's sold about 6,000 trees at both his farm near North Battleford and the retail locations he delivers to in Regina and Saskatoon.
He believes he'll sell out his stock within the coming days.
"I think the younger generation is wanting real stuff instead of a piece of plastic made halfway around the world," said McKay. "Our trees are all recyclable. People enjoy them."
Exports are also affecting supply, according to some growers CBC spoke with. The latest Statistics Canada data — which includes the year up to the end of October — shows $2.6 million worth of trees have been exported from Canada so far in 2022.
That number was $1.7 million for the same period in 2021.
Shirley Brennan, executive director of the CCTA, says the pandemic also helped drive interest in Christmas trees, as people weren't visiting other family.
"Every little family in the [larger] family was getting trees," said Brennan. "So they've kind of kept that tradition up now for three years."
A tree will also cost you, on average, about 10 per cent more over last year, according to the Christmas Tree Association.
Gilmour says it that stems from higher prices for farmers.
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