Maine Christmas tree farmers are expecting high demand this season, which could cause tree shortages in some areas.
Joanne Bond, of the Maine Christmas Tree Association, runs a cut-your-own tree farm with her husband in western Maine. She has seen the high interest first hand: they have already sold a number of trees even though Friday is their first official open day of the season.
Bond says tree growers can't respond quickly to market fluctuations because it takes 8 to 10 years for trees to reach harvest size. A few years ago, Bond says, it looked like consumers were set to prefer artificial trees, so farmers planted fewer. But a millennial preference for natural trees is squeezing the market.
"Same with food, they're going for more natural food, less preservatives, and that kind of stuff, yeah," she says.
But, she says, consumers shouldn't panic.
"You know, we have people that come here that want 'Charlie Browns,' you know? So, you know what I'm saying, I think everyone will get a tree," she says.
