Christmas trees sales are thriving around Charlotte, despite Helene storm damage. Why?

For the first time in over 20 years, the River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club is not selling Christmas trees.

David Brantley, chairman of the Christmas tree project, told The Charlotte Observer that news before announcing the club’s decision on social media recently.

He cited problems related to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which ravaged much of Western North Carolina this fall. But the deadly hurricane hasn’t stopped other local tree farms or those in Western North North Carolina from delivering on that Christmas tradition.

North Carolina is the country’s second-largest producer of fresh Christmas trees, mostly Fraser firs, with about 940 growers on nearly 40,000 acres, according to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture. More than 3 million trees are cut each year.

And western North Carolina has been thrust into the national spotlight this year because of Helene. Despite Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm loss of about 6,000 trees to mudslides during the storm, the White House chose the 18-and-a-half-foot national tree at the Avery County farm.

“I do expect people to make a valiant effort to buy North Carolina trees this year,” said Brian Wyant, owner and founder of Snowflake Village on South Tryon Street in Steele Creek. “It has been nice to see the rally around the folks in the mountains.”

Plenty of trees from Western North Carolina are sold in the Charlotte area.

The Lions’ western North Carolina and Tennessee suppliers had severe damage from Hurricane Helene, which hit North Carolina in late September. The storm caused landslides and massive flooding, and killed 103 people.

“We’ve made the decision not to sell Christmas trees this year because of the pricing and availability,” Brantley said. “We were unable to secure our usual supply this year. We’ll take another look at it next year.”

Josh Graham, owner of Josh’s Farmers Market in Mooresville, has pulled trees from Ashe and Watauga counties for 20 years. He believes more people plan to support the people in the mountains by buying real trees instead of using artificial ones.

The Snowflake Village is a nonprofit organization that raises money for several local charities. This year, Western North Carolina has been added to the list.

The lot has used the same growers for 15 years and typically orders up to 3,000 trees. But this year, Wyant added 10% to the order.

“We want to increase our sales so we have more to donate,” he said.

Will there be a shortage on fresh Christmas trees?

Tree lots in the Charlotte region say damage to their suppliers’ tree farms was minimal, mostly because of road access not tree damage or harvest problems.

Josh’s Farmers Market ordered about 1,500 Christmas trees and can order more if needed, Graham said.

It’s the first time in seven years, Graham said, that prices haven’t increased. He said that’s because back in 2008, growers weren’t replanting cut trees and it caused a shortage.

“This was the first time in several years you could get all of the 6- and 7-foot trees you wanted,” Graham said.

Did the storm affect tree pricing?

After several years of price hikes on fresh Christmas trees, this year is a bit mixed because of several factors. None blamed Helene.

Many tree lots have lost sales over the past years because of higher prices and the economy, which could push more customers to buy artificial trees, Wyant said.

But at Snowflake Village, “our pricing is going to stay the same as last year,” he said. Trees start at about $70 for a 5-footer. Like five other retailers The Charlotte Observer talked to, 6-foot trees are priced around $80 and up.

Darryl Simpson Family Christmas Trees at Kings Drive Farmers Market on South Kings Drive in Charlotte expects to sell up to 13,000 trees, co-owner Kevin Presley said.

He said prices have increased on everything from fuel and fertilizer to labor during harvesting and bailing twine. “Everything just keeps creeping up,” Presley said.

The 83-year-old lot has four generations at a given time working. But they are more than a tree lot. They have their own tree farms in mostly Ashe County with over 100,000 trees and a transportation company.

While roads were washed out, the stock of trees wasn’t impacted by the storm, Presley said. “Our trees were just cut a few days ago,” he said. “And we’re able to cut as we need. We can maintain a revolving supply of fresh trees on the lot.”

The farm is also part of the NC Christmas Tree Association, which means members can barter or trade with other growers for a size they may not have.

“North Carolina trees go all over the country and it has a direct effect on the local economy,” Presley said. “The money just stays right here in North Carolina, it’s a big deal. It’s a direct effect.”

Did the storm affect local cut-your-own tree farms?

On Nov. 18, Allison and Martin Moses, owners of Penland Christmas Tree Farm, were driving to their 70-acre tree farm in York, S.C., after picking up a “handful” of Fraser firs from western North Carolina.

The Western North Carolina tree farm they bought from lost about 1,000 trees in a landslide, Allison Moses said.

“We’re lucky to have our own choose-and-cut farm where we grow our own trees,” she said. “We have a big selection this year.”

York County, where Penland Farm sits on Campbell Road, also experienced high winds and flooding. The storm mostly impacted the 2- and 3-year-old trees, which left many of them falling or leaning over, Allison Moses said. But none of the roots were exposed and they were able to anchor and straighten them.

“They’re growing just happy as can be now,” Allison Moses said.

The over-50-year-old, choose-and-cut farm grows six varieties, including the popular cypress. But they like to have a few cut Frasers from the mountains available.

“We only bring in a few of them, because we mostly sell our homegrown trees,” Allison Moses said. “We’re not going to run out of trees this year.”

Just north of Charlotte in Denver, Grace Tree Farm owner Doug Sidell said the 15-acre choose-and-cut family farm also buys a few cut Fraser firs from the Alleghany County area. Some customers don’t want to cut their own, he said, though they have several varieties available including Carolina Sapphire and cypress.

Since opening in 2011, Sidell said business has grown with the majority of customers coming from within a 45-minute radius but as far as three hours away.

“People want the overall experience of going out to a farm to cut a tree and get family photos,” Sidell said.

‘Real’ Christmas trees sales growth rooted in tradition

Snowflake Village sees customers come from as far away as Winston-Salem and Statesville to Mooresville and Mint Hill, Wyant said. The 3-acre tree lot also offers a prayer chapel, Santa hut and sleigh, bonfires, hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows.

“People love real Christmas trees,” Wyant said. “People just seem to love the experience and the fact that we’re giving back to charity.”

Over the past five years, Penland Farm’s tree sales have grown about 15%, Allison Moses said.

The farm also has snacks and a gift shop. They have loyal longtime customers and many new ones as the area’s population grows.

“This is what I’ve done my whole life,” the 46-year-old Moses said.

At Grace Tree Farm new additions this year are hot cider and apple cider doughnuts.

“The spirit is alive and well,” Sidell said. “People who are real tree people tend to stay real tree people.”

This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Christmas trees sales are thriving around Charlotte, despite Helene storm damage. Why?."