The coronavirus epidemic is increasing the demand for real Christmas trees

First it was toilet paper, then it ran on home exercise equipment and now the COVID-19 pandemic is behind another shortage – Christmas trees.

Shirley Brennan, executive director of Christmas Tree Farmers in Ontario, told CP24 that demand for tress has increased over the past five holiday seasons, but that this season’s jump is particularly pronounced, with fewer residents going around the holidays and picking out your tree-tree and many more. Have some fun amidst public health restrictions.

“We have seen sales of Christmas tree farms grow by 25 per cent across the board and we are seeing more families coming out and getting the tree as well as enjoying the fresh air,” she said.

It can take up to 10 years to grow an average-sized Christmas tree from seed, so farmers may not be able to increase their supply, in response to epidemic-based demand growth.

“This year’s Fraser firs are a particularly hot item, and shoppers are likely to see lower sales of them as we get closer to the holiday,” Brennan said.

But other similar trees like Douglas firs are also available and are a good alternative, she said.

“Everyone wants Fraser Fir. This is a tree that most people like, because it holds its needles well and it is soft needles so if you have small children or something like that (this is good). So we (supply) seem to have problems, ”she said. “But there are more fir trees, Ontario farmers grow and own their assets. There are balsam fir, canon fir and Douglas fir, so there are a lot of trees and for a while it’s something that consumers are aware of.”

Demand for this specialty has grown significantly as a result of recent corporate scandals involving farms across Canada and the US, with many operators claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic has already begun.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. state of Oregon alone will ship six million Christmas trees this year, most of which will be distributed overseas.

“There is a shortage. Our coast comes from the very east coast, some are Ontario and we are working very hard to get more. Farmers say there is a shortage, ”Langer, a tree outside the Dufferin Mall, told CP24 on Monday morning. “We’ll always been popular for trees, but most (this year) a lot of people are at home. It’s sales much earlier than usual. Usually in December it grows but it’s busy.”