Harsh Drought Endangers Future Supply of Christmas Trees in the Northeast
Alexis Thornton
Last weekWith a drought gripping the Northeast, Christmas tree buyers may find themselves looking for new sources of holiday trees in the near future.
Last year, the trees experienced too much rain. This year? Not enough to go around.
As a result, many young saplings have struggled to survive, with a troubling number failing to make it through the season. The combination of erratic weather patterns and rising temperatures has left growers scrambling to protect their crops, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the Christmas tree industry.
Christmas Tree Farm Owners Are Worried
WBZ-TV, a CNN affiliate, spoke with Chris Moran from Vandervalk Farms, “We lost 20-to-25 percent of the trees that we planted this year.” They have recorded a loss of 500 trees out of the 2,700 saplings planted in Spring. “in ten years, I have 25 or 20 percent less of my product to sell.”