‘Tis the Season for Christmas Tree Farms
While COVID-19 cannot cancel Christmas, it has put a wedge in the Christmas tree industry. There is nothing quite like the woody fragrance of a fresh cut Christmas tree filling up one’s home to get in the holiday spirit. With the holiday season approaching, Christmas tree farms are getting ready to open their fields of evergreens to the Hudson Valley locals.
Due to the pandemic, people are spending more time at home more than ever before. According to research by Stanford University, 42 percent of the U.S. labor force is now working from home. This major shift has encouraged people to get creative and spruce up their homes which farms are hoping will positively impact the Christmas tree industry. According to Abel’s Tree farm, the way in which people spend their money is evolving, therefore, the industry may be expecting a spike in sales.
“We have been wondering about it for months. If you look at other farms such as the U-pick farms and orchards they seem to have been busier than previous years. Many people want to go outside and get away from being cooped up in their homes,” said owner of Abel’s Tree farm, Steve Abel. “We are expecting it to be a very busy year. We have 190 acres of farm and 25–30 acres of trees so there’s a lot of spacing out there. Our open areas allow for tailgating for many groups to maintain social distance.”
Another farm that is looking forward to the holiday season is Fabulous Firs Christmas Tree Farm located in Poughkeepsie–home to 65 acres of land with thousands of Evergreens. This year they are not only cutting down trees but also on events.
Due to COVID-19, this year is a different experience for both new and old customers. According to the farm’s new protocols, customers have to supply their own saw or rent them for a price, masks and social distancing are required, events with Santa and hayrides are closed due to state restrictions, tailgating is prohibited, and customers have to bring their own straps to secure their tree onto one’s vehicle. Customers also have the option to pre-cut their own tree or cut it down themselves.
“It is such a special tradition to bring the family each year. Despite a lot of changes to the experience, being together as a family is the only thing that matters to me,” said customer of Fabulous Firs Christmas Tree Farm, Lori M. Ciampi.
Some aspects that haven’t changed due to the pandemic are weather issues. “If we have a snow storm, people don’t come. If there’s a lot of snow dump that covers trees it is also harder to find your way around the field and select a tree. This is typical every year,” said Abel.
Buying a fresh-cut tree for the holiday season also supports local farmers and the environment. According to an advisor of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, “While artificial trees end up in landfills or energy-intense recycling plants, live trees are biodegradable,” said Lynn Wunderlich. “They can be naturally recycled by composting or shredded to use as mulch.”
While many changes have been made to an industry that is a tradition for many families, Christmas tree farms look forward to providing a sense of normalcy and togetherness with their trees. While farmed trees can be found on tree lots, home improvement stores, grocery stores, and more, there is nothing like the experience of choosing the perfect tree for one’s home at a Christmas tree farm.
