In the heart of New York, where even the air seems to cost a premium, Christmas trees are no different. This year prices have skyrocketed like never before. Many New York families are questioning whether they can afford to uphold the American tradition.
For example, SoHo Trees–a business on Canal Street that has been selling trees for forty years–a 6-foot Christmas trees was going for $199, while Greg’s Trees at McCarren Park was offering the same size for $129. In the West Village on Tuesday, a number of lots were charging $140 for 6-foot firs and $400 for 7-footers.
There are a number of factors to blame for these prices. It all started after the Great Recession in 2008. Christmas trees typically take around ten years to grow enough to be sold. During that time, many farms were forced to close because they didn’t have the funds to plant them or, worse, to keep their businesses alive. According to the Gothamist, Christmas tree availability–or better, shortage–has been affected by the lingering effects of the financial crisis.
According to the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York, the inflated costs of transportation, fuel and labor are other key factors contributing to the surge. New York sellers, who buy trees from Canada, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington State, saw costs of production, fuel, labor, seedlings and fertilizers to keep trees healthy, spike. In the past five or six years, the price of a 6-foot tree has increased 5 percent every year.
Then, the effects of climate change shouldn’t be underestimated. Extreme heat and drought have exacerbated tree growth and increased costs, particularly on Long Island, where the American Christmas Tree Association has reported localized shortages.
The soaring price of Christmas trees could force some families to forgo this tradition, since many have already been hit hard by inflation and economic uncertainty. Some of the above mentioned Christmas tree sellers are offering other options to keep the Christmas spirit alive, like small, handmade-superglued trees for only a couple of bucks or a similar type for $5.
