CLAYTON — This year some families may find it harder than ever to find a holiday staple.
Advent Christmas Tree Farm in Clayton is 21 acres of 15,000 trees — but even in this forest owner Scott Anderson said it’s getting harder to find a tree.
“For about the last four to five years, locally and even nationally, regionally, nationally, we’ve seen a shortage of Christmas trees,” Anderson said.
He moved to appointment-only shopping. All 900 slots he had for the season filled up in 36 hours.
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Anderson is a member of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association and said supply and demand are out of balance in his business.
More families want real trees, but fewer farmers are growing them because of thin margins.
“You would think that you just put a tree in the ground and grow it, and that’s all there is to it. It actually is a year-round job,” Anderson said.
Jill Sidebottom is with the National Christmas Tree Association.
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She said the nationwide shortage is because of the reasons Anderson laid out.
She also said farmers planted fewer live trees to adjust for a drop in demand when the 2008 recession hit.
Trees take up to 15 years to grow before they can be sold, so we are still seeing the impacts, Sidebottom said.
“That’s why we’re still looking at a shortage nationwide and undersupply, and we’re anticipating that will go on for another couple of years,” she said.
Back in Clayton, Anderson said his farm will keep growing trees and growing memories along the way.
“Today we’re seeing a lot of young families who are really embracing the tradition of getting your own Christmas tree,” Anderson said.
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