Christmas Tree Farmers Worried About Tree Shortage
LIVERMORE (CBS SF) -- If you've been thinking about getting an artificial Christmas tree, this may be the season to do it as tree lots report of a shortage of the real thing.
Real trees are harder to come by this year and the ones that are available are pricey.
At John Moore's Christmas tree lot in Livermore, owner Moore confirmed that, despite his current abundance of trees, there is a limited supply nationwide.
"There definitely is a tree shortage this year," said Moore.
In Oregon there are more fir trees than people for now. But according to the USDA, Oregon Christmas tree growers cut and sold 4.7 million trees in 2015, a number that is down 26 percent from 2010.
Christmas trees were growing on over 41,000 acres in 2015, but that figure was down 28 percent from 2010.
It's been tough for Oregon Christmas tree farmers like John Schatz.
"The Christmas tree industry has been tough the last few years. Prices have been suppressed, so a lot of farmers in Oregon are struggling," said Schatz. "And they aren't putting a lot of trees in the ground. Our trees take 9 to 11 years to grow."
Moore, who just got another truck full of trees delivered from Oregon Wednesday, says he saw the shortage coming.
"I had an idea and had been forewarned, because I know a lot of the tree growers have gotten out of the business," explained Moore.
Farmers up north have decided to grow other commodities they can turn more quickly than trees.
"Grapes, hazelnuts and other things," said Moore.
Moore says he has bought in bulk, purchasing whole fields of trees this season in order to keep his prices the same. Given that it's been his lifelong passion and livelihood, he says he hopes selling Christmas trees isn't a dying industry.
When asked if the downturn in the business dampens his spirit, Moore replied, "Yes it does. You hate to see people go artificial."
