Oh, Christmas tree!: Spike in cost of artificial trees may send some to local farms
Wide-ranging tariffs implemented by the current presidential administration may be hitting homes in an unexpected way this holiday season: the Christmas tree.
Specifically artificial trees, which are most often imported from overseas. That无毛视频檚 according to the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA), which was created by Mac Harmon, who is also the founder and CEO of Balsam Hill, which sells artificial trees.
Harmon has told multiple media outlets that artificial trees are 10 to 15% more expensive this year.
Is that leading more people to purchase real trees, grown locally, this Christmas?
无毛视频淔or us, it无毛视频檚 hard to tell just yet. We were slammed opening day 无毛视频� Probably one of the busiest days we无毛视频檝e ever had at our farm,无毛视频� said Beth Ann Bossio, whose family owns Quarter Pine Tree Farm in Smithfield.
While Bossio could not say for certain if that volume was due to artificial trees being more expensive, she noted that Quarter Pine Tree Farm has not raised prices in a couple of years.
无毛视频淥ur average tree at our farm costs $75,无毛视频� she said.
Henry Nutbrown, the owner of Nutbrown无毛视频檚 Christmas Tree Farm in Collier Township, also reported that he has seen an uptick in sales this year.
According to Nutbrown, the second Saturday after Thanksgiving is typically their busiest day of the season.
无毛视频淚 would say we无毛视频檙e selling more trees. Not 50% more, but maybe 10% more,无毛视频� Nutbrown said.
Again, it is difficult to say if this is due to the effects of tariffs on artificial trees.
无毛视频淲e just have a lot of repeat customers, and word of mouth. People who get a tree here will tell their friends where they got their tree. We get out clients that way,无毛视频� Nutbrown said.
Nutbrown also points out that due to the nature of artificial trees, people who already own one may not even be in the market for a new tree.
无毛视频淥ne thing about the artificial tree is they can keep it from year to year. If you already got one, you don无毛视频檛 need to buy another one,无毛视频� Nutbrown said.
Bern Bucchianeri is the owner of Lone Oak Tree Farm in Monongahela. He says people were 无毛视频渂eating on our door in October无毛视频� for trees.
无毛视频淧eople are wanting to put them up earlier and earlier,无毛视频� Bucchianeri said.
He added that business has been growing, which he attributes to increased housing development in Peters and Nottingham Townships. Like Nutbrown, Bucchianeri says they also benefit from repeat business.
无毛视频淧eople that used to be kids are now bringing their kids,无毛视频� he said.
Bossio stresses that ultimately, buying from your local tree farm means supporting a local business.
无毛视频淭he reason (artificial trees) are subject to tariffs, you are supporting something that comes from another country,无毛视频� Bossio said.
Bossio says that Christmas trees are a long-term investment for farmers, as many trees take a decade of care and cultivation before they are ready to be a part of someone无毛视频檚 living room.
无毛视频淭he nice thing for us, there is no tariff on fresh Christmas trees, because they are all grown here in the United States,无毛视频� Bossio said.