Oh, Christmas tree!: Spike in cost of artificial trees may send some to local farms
Wide-ranging tariffs implemented by the current presidential administration may be hitting homes in an unexpected way this holiday season: the Christmas tree.
Specifically artificial trees, which are most often imported from overseas. That’s according to the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA), which was created by Mac Harmon, who is also the founder and CEO of Balsam Hill, which sells artificial trees.
Harmon has told multiple media outlets that artificial trees are 10 to 15% more expensive this year.
Is that leading more people to purchase real trees, grown locally, this Christmas?
“For us, it’s hard to tell just yet. We were slammed opening day … Probably one of the busiest days we’ve ever had at our farm,” said Beth Ann Bossio, whose family owns Quarter Pine Tree Farm in Smithfield.
While Bossio could not say for certain if that volume was due to artificial trees being more expensive, she noted that Quarter Pine Tree Farm has not raised prices in a couple of years.
“Our average tree at our farm costs $75,” she said.
Henry Nutbrown, the owner of Nutbrown’s Christmas Tree Farm in Collier Township, also reported that he has seen an uptick in sales this year.
According to Nutbrown, the second Saturday after Thanksgiving is typically their busiest day of the season.
“I would say we’re selling more trees. Not 50% more, but maybe 10% more,” Nutbrown said.
Again, it is difficult to say if this is due to the effects of tariffs on artificial trees.
“We just have a lot of repeat customers, and word of mouth. People who get a tree here will tell their friends where they got their tree. We get out clients that way,” Nutbrown said.
Nutbrown also points out that due to the nature of artificial trees, people who already own one may not even be in the market for a new tree.
“One thing about the artificial tree is they can keep it from year to year. If you already got one, you don’t need to buy another one,” Nutbrown said.
Bern Bucchianeri is the owner of Lone Oak Tree Farm in Monongahela. He says people were “beating on our door in October” for trees.
“People are wanting to put them up earlier and earlier,” Bucchianeri said.
He added that business has been growing, which he attributes to increased housing development in Peters and Nottingham Townships. Like Nutbrown, Bucchianeri says they also benefit from repeat business.
“People that used to be kids are now bringing their kids,” he said.
Bossio stresses that ultimately, buying from your local tree farm means supporting a local business.
“The reason (artificial trees) are subject to tariffs, you are supporting something that comes from another country,” Bossio said.
Bossio says that Christmas trees are a long-term investment for farmers, as many trees take a decade of care and cultivation before they are ready to be a part of someone’s living room.
“The nice thing for us, there is no tariff on fresh Christmas trees, because they are all grown here in the United States,” Bossio said.