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It could cost a bit more money this year to get into the holiday spirit. But do not blame the Grinch; the United States is suffering from a national shortage of Christmas trees.
Think of it as a hangover from the Great Recession. Even though it struck ten years ago, the economic downturn of 2008 and the simultaneous overabundance of spruces and spruces have resulted in the bankruptcy of many producers. The supply is now tight – and it takes time to rebuild, as a tree grows eight to ten years before being ready for the tree lot.
"Last year was bad. this year is horrible, "said Chris Winkler, 53, co-owner of the Holiday Sale tent on SW 104th Street in Kendall, who has been selling Christmas trees with his family in Miami for more than 40 years. Normally, Winkler and his three brothers operate four tree sales outlets; this year they are only two.
And according to the laws of supply and demand, fewer trees means higher prices.
"We do not have trees to fill four," he said. "I have invested more money this year and have fewer trees."
On Friday, the Winkler shop car park in Kendall was filled with cars. Winkler said the tree growers he bought in North Carolina had increased their prices by about 20% this year, so he had to charge more to customers.
This price increase was too important for customers Juan and Jessie Rangel and their two young boys. Last year, they reported spending $ 85 for a tree. This year, the same seven-foot tree was sold for $ 130.
"$ 130? Jesus Christ, "said Jessie Rangel. "I thought $ 85 was a lot. Maybe it's time to buy a plastic tree.
The family went to Home Depot, where she might have had more luck. Large retailers are less affected by the shortage because they buy a large variety of trees in large quantities. Liz Simone, Home Depot Store Manager in North Miami, said the stock at her store was perfect. She expects the store to have enough to last until the 25th.
Nearby, KB's real Christmas trees had just enough trees in stock, but not the variety that the owner, Ken Burns, 60, has typically seen in his 44 years of operation. He pulls his trees from farmers in Michigan and North Carolina.
"I have been dealing with the same farmers for 35 years, so I have priority with them," he said. "This year, I have less choice as to size and no last minute order."
The problems of supply and demand are not new. Like other crops, Christmas trees are a commodity that runs through cycles ranging from too few trees to oversupply. "The supply and demand seem to always fluctuate," said Chal Landgren, a specialist in Christmas trees and a professor at Oregon State University.
But regional factors also exacerbate the problem. For example, spring frost damaged trees on some farms in Nova Scotia, stifling supply in the Northeast and putting pressure on other tree sources. Some Canadian farms in New Brunswick are buried under the snow of recent storms, which prevents them from transporting trees in trucks for shipping.
A shortage of Fraser fir, the most popular on the East Coast, has prompted some buyers in North Carolina to look for balsam fir in New England. In Oregon, some people take Fraser Fir from the east instead of the noble fir trees that are the most popular trees on the west coast.
Hurricanes and forest fires have also affected logging operations in North Carolina and California, Burns and Winkler said.
In total, US consumers should buy about 27 million trees, about the same as the last two years, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Most people will find what they want, but prices could be a bit higher than last year's average retail price of about $ 75, said Tim O'Connor, director of the association. .
With a lighter offer, buyers may want to start early if they want a lot of choice and variety.
Kimberly Hernández did not wait. On Friday, the Bay Harbor resident spent $ 80 on a 7-foot tree at KB's Real's Trees, her very first. Her parents plan to come from Venezuela and she wants a real Christmas tree for the family.
"This tree caught my eye, it's so full," she said. "I like the smell."
This report was supplemented by documents from the Associated Press.
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