Christmas tree industry hurting nationally in still-faltering economy

DAYTONA BEACH -- A tough economy with less consumer spending hit the Christmas tree industry last year, and officials expect about the same results this year.Americans bought nearly 40 million Christmas trees last year, including 28.2 million farm-grown "real" trees, but that was down 10 percent from 2007, according to the National Christmas Tree Association based in Chesterfield, Mo. Artificial trees fared even worse with 11.7 million selling, down 35 percent from 2007.
"It was a tough year for some, but overall the farm-grown Christmas tree industry is still healthy," said Mark Steelhammer, association president. "We heard from many of the small choose-and-cut farms especially, that the segment had a strong year in spite of the overall decline."
Jim and Gail Watson, owners of Watson's Cedar Grove Choose-and-Cut Christmas tree farm in Oak Hill, did not see a drop in the number of families coming to their business.
"It's about the same as it's been for the past 25 years," Jim Watson said. "I don't expect it to change. We lose some and gain some."
The one noticeable change is fewer tall trees -- the 15- to 25-footers -- were bought by corporations and municipalities, which were looking to cut costs, Watson said.
But just like many other retail businesses, the Watsons begin the Christmas season right after Thanksgiving -- the day after, in fact. The six-acre tree farm at 180 Cedar Grove opens Nov. 27 and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday through Christmas.
Gathering the family together and going out to pick the Christmas tree is a long-standing tradition, said Gail Watson. "I feel that this is a tradition that will never die, no matter what the economy is."
There are 23 choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms listed on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Web site (doacs.state.fl.us/). They range across the Panhandle from Jacksonville to Pensacola and south to neighboring Lake County and one in Volusia County. No Flagler County farm is listed.
They grow Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Sand Pine, Spruce Pine, Arizona Cypress and Leyland Cypress.
Costs are one reason choose-and-cut tree farms are popular. The Watson's sell their trees for $5 a foot. Trees purchased at temporary roadside tree-selling operations or large home improvement stores can cost twice as much to cover operational costs such as transportation, labor and space rentals.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the cost of a farm-grown tree last year was $36.50 while an artificial tree averaged $60.64, but they do last several years.
Tress cut at local farms are fresher than those cut weeks before arriving in Florida, Watson said. Fresh cut trees can survive four to six weeks if properly watered.