By Lawrence Belanger
Local Journalism Initiative
Prices for Christmas trees are up again this year, flowing over from last year’s shortage. Due to industry and consumer factors, Eastern Townships residents can expect to pay more this year if they want a natural tree.
Speaking by phone, Shirley Brennan, Executive Director of the Canadian Christmas Trees Association (CCTA), explained that a combination of factors is responsible for the increase in price. Notably, 20,000 acres of farmland have been lost nationwide due to retirements and sales of farms, amounting to 30 million fewer trees available on the market. In Quebec, from 2011-2021 the province lost 122 Christmas tree farms. According to Brennan, that amounts to “almost 2.2 million trees which are not being planted”.
Furthermore, inflation has raised the cost of fuel and fertilizer by as much as 25 per cent.
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