Recently, there has been word of a supply shortage of Christmas trees, thus raising the question: Has the Grinch stolen Christmas once again? Both artificial trees and real trees have been reported as becoming short in supply over the past couple years due to summer droughts, shipping concerns, and other restrictions.
When COVID-19 forced the world to shut down last year, supply shortages were not uncommon. There were hoarding wars over toilet paper, paper towels, other toiletries, and various everyday products we felt necessary for survival. Deliveries were severely delayed, and travel was completely on hold for everyone’s safety and well-being. As we have slowly moved to open back up and ease into normalcy again, there has been an increase in hope and positivity throughout this challenging time.
Photo credit Courtney YountDoug Fortier of Merry Christmas Trees takes great pride in running his family’s tree farm.
There has been a reported limited supply of fresh trees due to the extensive heat waves and droughts throughout the past few years, as well as COVID-19 restrictions. Some establishments that sell anything but local trees may have difficulty stocking them due to these challenges. This season, it’s a great idea to support local tree farms. All around southern Maine, there are choose-and-cut farms that allow you to pick the best tree for your home this holiday season and keep those family traditions alive.
Tree farmers, like Doug Fortier, work extremely hard every year to make sure to keep the holiday spirit alive. Fortier runs Merry Christmas Trees, located in Windham, Maine, a business that has been in his family for over a century. “It started out as my great-grandfather’s dairy farm, and we started planting trees in 1982 and started selling them in 1989.”
Fortier said the heavy rains this past July really helped with farming, and he hopes for a positive turnout this season. “The summer droughts were not kind to us; they made our supplies short and we have had to shut down early for the past few years.”
Remember to support your other local tree farms, as well. Let’s make this holiday season one that will make the Grinch’s heart grow even more.
