By Aodhán Doyle SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Depending on who you ask, the official start of the Christmas season ranges from November 1st all the way until the middle of December.
But for those who subscribe to the latter philosophy, they may have to change their ways.
Thanks to a nationwide Christmas tree shortage that stems all the way from the 2008 financial crisis, vendors across the country have been left with shorter supplies and fewer options for potential customers over the last few years.
Still looking to find the perfect tree, customers have begun to adapt, going out to buy their tree even earlier than normal.
“This weekend was actually really busy,” said Kristen Greean, a local Syracuse tree vendor. “It’s not usually a terribly busy weekend, the weekend after Thanksgiving, so I think people are coming out and getting their trees earlier…definitely.”
With fewer trees available after many farms closed following The Great Recession, some vendors are selling out in early December, well before the typical peak season.
“My family used to own our own farm just outside of Syracuse,” said Linda Barry, who now has traded in the role of the vendor for that of a consumer. “When the recession hit, though, it just didn’t work financially and we closed.”
Too few Christmas trees? Oh it cannot be! Don’t believe me? Tune into NCC #BDJ4641 pic.twitter.com/9s8fi4yoDL
— Aodhán Doyle (@AodhanDoyle) November 29, 2018
The tree shortage is also making its presence known to customers’ wallets.
With the supply of trees down and the demand for them as high as ever, prices have climbed significantly in recent years.
“It used to be twelve-dollars to cut down your tree,” Barry added. “Then I saw it go to twenty, you know, then I went to some farms and they were charging per foot. It’s definitely gone up a lot.”
As the calendar flips to December, many Central New Yorkers may be disappointed when they venture out to get this year’s tree. While analysts expect the supply of trees to rebound in the upcoming years, for now, it seems as though they’ll have to trim their expectations rather than their tree.
