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The first wave of coronavirus lockdown in March sparked global demand for toilet paper as packages flew off the shelves and the second wave could cause another unusual shortage: the Christmas tree.
As the virus continues to grow across Canada, forcing tougher lockdowns and restrictions, many people may seek “normalcy” during the holiday season and find it in a large evergreen tree, according to Shirley Brennan, executive director of the Canadian Christmas Tree Association. growers.
READ MORE: Christmas trees selling like crazy in Winnipeg
“We are seeing huge demand this year. The farms I spoke to across Ontario saw a record number of people go out for the opening week, and the second week is just as strong, “he said.
“Some tree growers even fear they won’t have any more trees available after this week.”
Brennan explained that although people can drive near a tree farm and see a lot of the field, that doesn’t mean they’re available. Trees, like the popular Frasier spruce, take around 10 years to grow, so farmers can’t cut them all down to meet the growing demand.
“Farmers have a number of trees that they can sell each year, and then they hit that magic number, then they start selling pre-cuts or say ‘sorry we’re out of stock,'” he said.
The first weekend in December is typically the busiest time for tree sales, and Brennan said this year she spoke to farmers who have already sold 50% of their evergreens and may not even make it to the weekend.
A number of reasons are driving the increase in interest. Other Canadians stay home for the holidays amid pandemic restrictions and hope to create special memories, Brennan said.
Additionally, many sun tree farms allow families to enjoy an outdoor winter activity, where there is a lower risk of viral spread.
“People realize that ‘I’m not leaving for Christmas this year, so I’m going to get a real tree.’ Families want a tradition and they want to embrace this holiday season because they have lost so much this year to COVID, “he said.
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Amy Watson of Foresters Point Christmas Tree Farm in New Brunswick said on Saturday that families had lined up outside to get their hands on an evergreen.
He said the tree farm is following COVID-19 security protocols and people are distancing socially and following the rules.
“We sold more trees yesterday than we sold all season last year,” he said, adding that he believes people are hoping to get trees earlier this year because they want some Christmas cheer. He said that this year too, people want to support the venue more than ever.
“In several places yesterday there was no longer any place to park. There were families carrying trees out, people scattered around the camp… it was a fun day, ”Watson said.
Demand is also high in the United States
The high demand for Christmas trees isn’t just in Canada.
According to the Associated Press, Oregon, the number one supplier of freshly cut trees in the United States, plans to ship nearly six million evergreens this season to places as far away as Japan and China.
“The season is going about six to seven days ahead of what we’ve seen in the past. We’ve never seen demand like we’ve had this year, ”said McKenzie Cook, who ships between 1.8 million and two million trees a year from McKenzie Farms in Oregon and Happy Holiday Christmas Trees in North Carolina.
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Lee Farms, a sixth-generation family farm in Tualatin, Oregon, opened for the season a week earlier than last year. He sold over 100 trees in the first four hours and saw new faces in a company that normally welcomes the same customers every year.
“It’s almost a new – or renewed – experience for many families this year,” Teagan Milera, co-owner of Lee Farm, told The Associated Press. “Having that real tree smells so good in the house, something to care for and decorate together, that nothing beats that for the holiday season.”
Have an open mind
Even though the demand for a real Christmas tree is higher than normal this year, it doesn’t mean that finding one is impossible. Canadians may need to have “an open mind” when looking for the perfect tree, Brennan said.
The most popular Christmas tree, the Frasier fir, may be purchased soon, so people may have to find more trees instead, he said. This is because Frasier firs are not only popular, but also harder to grow, so they may be harder to find, he explained.
“But we’re finding this year people aren’t as concerned about size, but more concerned about going out and getting a family tradition. That’s a great thing,” she said.
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