Don't delay Christmas tree shopping this year. Why NY farmers say demand has increased
FJ and Kat Spinelli bought their Newburgh Christmas tree farm, Airfield Farms, back in 2018.
They planted in 2019 and opened that holiday season. Still new to the Christmas tree farm industry, their trees haven't had enough time to mature — it typically takes 10 years for them to grow.
For farmers like FJ Spinelli who aren't quite ready to have a cut-your-own tree service, they rely on larger Christmas tree farms across the state to supply pre-cut trees for their clientele, and they're not alone.
Increased demand, due in part to more families turning to live tree shopping in the wake of the pandemic, has put pressure on farms to supply more trees.
While that pressure hasn't risen to the level of a tree shortage, you might see those perfectly sized picks snatched up quickly this year.
Why demand for live Christmas trees has increased
Gene Knudsen is on the board of directors for the Christmas Tree Farm Association of New York. Since Christmas trees take so much time to grow, he said, "the demand is really out of proportion to the supply."
"We're having a problem getting 6- to 8-foot trees from our suppliers in Saratoga County," Spinelli said, adding some farmers have brought trees from Maine and even Canada to make up for the loss.
"A lot of it relates to COVID, quite frankly, where transportation was an issue, so trees couldn't be moved around as readily," Knudsen said. "The other thing with COVID is that a lot of people, who might have been traveling in normal years or didn't put up a tree, found themselves at home and looking for a safe outdoor activity. Looking for a Christmas tree fit the bill perfectly."
As a result, the number of people seeking fresh trees each year has increased.
"We have people come as far away as Staten Island, Queens and Long Island to come get trees from us," Spinelli said. "We've really enjoyed a wide customer base."
Planning your trip to the Christmas tree farm? Why you might want to go early
With that high demand, Spinelli and other farmers have one suggestion for tree buyers this year: the earlier the better.
"The only thing I would say is come early. There is not an unlimited supply," Knudsen said. "When we sell out, we sell out, and we will sell out. I would think most farms in the Hudson Valley will."
Most area farms will be open by Black Friday — some opened even earlier — and Knudsen said trees bought then have absolutely no problem lasting until Christmas.
He's even had people send him pictures of their trees decorated for Valentine's Day, and one person sent him a picture of their tree decorated for Easter. That one made him laugh. "I wrote back and said it's time to take the tree down," he said.
If you want to wait to decorate your tree closer to the holiday, here are a few tips Spinelli suggests for maintaining it:
To store inside: Put a fresh cut on the bottom of the tree, put it in water and keep it in a cool place.
To store outside: Place your tree on the north side of your house.
What to do with your Christmas tree when the season ends
Vanessa Cooke-Case, owner of Fabulous Firs Christmas Tree Farm, said taking care of the land plays a role in preventing shortages as well. "Stewardship of the land is what makes a good farmer great," Cooke-Case said. "It's how you manage your farm. It's all about sustainability."
When you're ready to take your tree down, there are several ways to put it to use:
Trees can be mulched or recycled readily compared to artificial trees.
Recycle a Christmas tree by chipping it.
Put discarded Christmas trees in the woods for cover for birds.
Call your local Christmas tree farm, some will allow you to bring your tree back to them for recycling.
"It's a better, more sustainable way of celebrating the holiday, more respectful to the land, and it's authentic," Knudsen said.
So, if you're looking to get a real tree this year, go early and call ahead.
There are plenty of farms in the Hudson Valley to accommodate everyone looking for a fresh Christmas tree. Just don't wait until the week before Christmas to get it.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Hudson Valley Christmas tree farms will sell out quickly this year
