America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again

[craig nigrelli]

NOW THAT WE’VE GIVEN OUR THANKS AND THE LEFTOVERS ARE STUFFED IN TUPPERWARE IN THE FRIDGE,  MANY PEOPLE ARE MOVING ON TO THEIR CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS.

AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS GET READY TO BEGIN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT TREE,  GROWERS ARE HAVING HISTORIC CHALLENGES GETTING THEM TO SALE LOTS, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING IS USUALLY THE BIGGEST DAY FOR **LIVE** TREE SALES,  BUT SINCE THANKSGIVING CAME SO LATE THIS YEAR,  IT’S A VERY SHORT,  SELLING SEASON.

ON TOP OF THAT — A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE IS EXPECTED THANKS TO SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR, SUCH AS  NORTHEASTERN DROUGHT AND NORTH CAROLINA FLOODS,  AFTER HURRICANE HELENE.

THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IS THE SECOND-BIGGEST SUPPLIER OF CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE COUNTRY.

SHOPPERS BOUGHT ROUGHLY 21-AND-A-HALF MILLION **REAL** CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE U-S LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION.

ALSO, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS THE NUMBER OF TREES,  HARVESTED IN THE U-S, HAS DECLINED 30 PERCENT SINCE 2002,  WHILE THE AMERICAN POPULATION HAS GROWN 16 PERCENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD.