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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2018)
3B THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018 It may be harder to find your perfect tree By LISA RATHKE Associated Press MONTPELIER, Vt. — People may need to trim back their Christ- mas tree expectations this year. A tight supply means some shop- pers will be paying more and search- ing longer for that perfect Christmas tree this holiday season. But there’s no need for panic buying on Black Friday as industry experts say con- sumers will end up with something to decorate this holiday season. The yuletide market imbalance was created a decade ago when a glut of Christmas trees and the Great Recession combined to drive many growers out of business. Now the supply is tight and it takes eight to 10 years — the time needed to grow a Christmas tree — to boost the supply. “It’s bad. It’s the worst I’ve seen in a long time,” said Matthew LaC- asce, co-owner of the Finestkind Christmas tree farm in Dover-Fox- croft, Maine. The farm sells about 10,000 trees each season and is turn- ing down orders every day from des- perate retailers, LaCasce said. Larger retailers are doing just fine, officials say. It’s the smaller charita- ble organizations, school groups, and mom-and-pop operators that have had to scramble for trees. In Hawaii, Christmas tree seller Richard Tajiri said he ended up 1,000 trees short this season. “It’s going to be tough for every- body. There’s nothing you can do about it,” said Tajiri, who is fielding several dozen calls a day in Hono- lulu. “It’s first come, first served.” Lovell’s Florist and Nursery in Medford, Massachusetts, resorted to a hodgepodge of suppliers from Can- ada, North Carolina and the West Coast because the regular whole- saler couldn’t deliver, owner LaVerne Lovell said. They were expecting 1,000 trees to be delivered Friday. “It was about two days of com- plete panic,” she recalled. “The Christmas season carries us through the winter. If we don’t have any trees, it would’ve been a real nightmare.” The American Legion in Dover, Massachusetts, also had to search high and low for 450 trees for its annual fundraiser. “It’s getting tough,” said Tom McGill, who oversees the effort. Supply and demand problems are nothing new. Like other crops, Christ- mas trees are a commodity that goes through cycles from too few trees to AP Photo/Charles Krupa Joseph Kang carries a Christmas tree as he restocks the inventory at Noel’s tree farm in Litchfield, N.H., in 2011. A tight supply of Christmas trees this season could force consumers to not get the exact tree type they want, but there are enough evergreens to go around. ‘Supply and demand seem to always be in some flux.’ Chal Landgren Christmas tree specialist and professor at Oregon State University AP Photo/Toby Talbot Christmas trees stand in a field at the Pleasant Valley Tree Farm in Bennington, Vt. A tight supply of Christmas trees this season could force consumers to not get the exact tree type they want, but there are enough evergreens to go around. an oversupply. But regional factors are also exac- erbating the problem. For example, a spring frost dam- aged trees at some farms in Canada’s Nova Scotia, choking off some sup- ply in the Northeast. Some Canadian farms in New Brunswick are buried under snow from recent storms, mak- ing it difficult for them to get trees onto trucks for shipment. A shortage of Fraser trees, the most popular on the East Coast, had some North Carolina buyers scram- bling to find balsam firs in New England. In Oregon, some people are taking Fraser fir trees from the East instead of noble firs that are the most popular tree on the West Coast. “Supply and demand seem to always be in some flux,” Chal Land- gren, a Christmas tree specialist and professor at Oregon State University, said via email. All told, U.S. consumers are expected to buy about 27 million trees, roughly the same as the last two years, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Most people will find what they want, but prices could be a bit higher than last year’s average retail price of about $75, said Tim O’Connor, the association’s director. With the lean supply, shoppers might want to start early if they want a lot of choice and variety. Spencer Putman, of Weybridge, Vermont, didn’t worry himself about a purchase. He simply paid $5 for a permit to chop down his own tree in the 400,000-acre Green Mountain National Forest. “I don’t think we are going to run out of them very soon,” he said. VOLUNTEERS Continued from Page 2B ria.or.us or 503-325-4411. Clatsop County Animal Shelter — Animal care volunteers age 16 and older needed for one 3-hour shift per week. Pick up an application at 1315 S.E. 19th St., Warrenton. For in- formation, or to schedule orientation, call Leslie Atkinson at 503-325-1000. Friends of Seaside Library — 1131 Broadway, Seaside. Volun- teers needed to staff the fundraising store. For information, call 503-738- 6742 or stop by the library. Columbia Senior Diners — 1111 Exchange St., Astoria Senior Center. Volunteers needed week- days to serve tables and for kitchen help. Call 503-325-9693. Community Emergency Re- sponse Team — CERT volunteers needed for community events and disaster response with local police, fire and emergency medical service agencies. Training includes fire safety, first aid, traffic and crowd control, communications, damage survey, disaster planning and civic events within city limits. For infor- mation, contact CERT coordinator Kenny Hansen at khansen@asto- call 503-717-7171 or email Alana. Kujala@providence.org Lunch Buddy Mentoring Pro- gram — Adults needed to mentor elementary and middle school stu- dents once a week during lunch. For information, call (219) 331-6427 or go to bit.ly/2u3KpWe NorthWest Senior & Disability Services — Needs dishwashers and volunteers to serve and clean up weekdays at a meal site, and drivers for Meals on Wheels. Con- tact Candy Foster at 503-738-9323. Providence Seaside Hospi- tal — Needs volunteers who enjoy helping people. Opportunities are available in the hospital gift shop, café, and as greeters and for spir- itual integration. For information, River Song Foundation — Looking for people to assist with Trap/Neuter/Release/Feed (TNRF), especially in the Seaside and Knap- pa/Svensen areas. TNRF involves setting and/or monitoring traps, and daily feeding of cats and main- tenance of any shelters, and is a proven, science-based method that along with spay/neuter programs is the only effective and humane way of ending cat homelessness and suffering. Call 503-861-2003 for in- formation and to volunteer. Seaside American Legion Veterans’ Assistance & Rehabili- tation — Volunteers needed to help knit/crochet items for hospitalized vets and cut coupons for military families. Donations of fabric/yarn especially welcome. Group meets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. second Tues- day of the month at 1315 Broadway, Seaside. Call 503-738-5111. T he Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa is a luxury boutique hotel built on the former site of a historic cannery 600 feet out into the Mighty Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. The Hotel offers guests an unparalleled experience in a real working river... with diverse and exciting ship traffic to and from the Pacific Ocean. • Private Riverview balconies in all rooms • Fireplace, Complimentary Wi-fi throughout hotel • Clawfoot Tub with views,Terry Robes • Complimentary Continental Breakfast • Wine and appetizers each afternoon • Full service Day Spa on site • Fitness Room, Hot Tub,Finnish Sauna W I T H G R AT I T U D E AT Thanksgiving Giving Thanks ks k s to all who support Columbia Memorial Hospital— patients, community members, caregivers, medical community, donors, and local businesses. May the good things of life be yours in abundance not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the coming year. Telephone 503.325.4996 Toll Free 888.325.4996 Facsimile 503.325.8350 www.cannerypierhotel.com No. 10 Basin Street • Astoria, Oregon 97103 “Locals Only Special” December 2018 January 2019 Limited Space Available Excludes New Year’s Eve Weekend 109 $ Please call hotel direct 503-325-4996 * Per Night One Coupon per Stay Required Must Present Original Coupon at Check-In Deluxe King or Deluxe Double Queen Rates subject to change without notice. *Plus Applicable Tax 2111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Oregon 97103 503-325-4321 | columbiamemorial.org
