Choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms are all 'about creating memories'
It’s open season for Christmas trees.
Most Western Pennsylvania tree farms opened for business last week — the day after Thanksgiving being the unofficial kickoff to tree season. This year, demand is expected to continue to climb, but supply could be an issue.
A combination of millennials starting families and continuing holiday rituals, supply chain disruptions limiting the number of artificial trees on store shelves and fewer Christmas tree farms offering choose-and-cut options could leave consumers competing for that coveted Fraser fir, farmers and industry experts said.
“It’s about bringing Christmas to everyone,” said Stacey Mytrysak, co-owner of Mytrysak Family Tree Farm and Greenhouse in Armstrong Township, Indiana County. “It’s about creating memories. People will take photos in front of their tree decorated with their favorite ornaments and have those pictures forever.”
“More people want to do choose-and-cut,” said Mike Ridilla, owner of Ridilla’s Nursery in Latrobe. “They want a live tree.”
Live tree sales have been increasing steadily over the past few years, said Doug Hundley, a spokesman for the National Christmas Tree Association. Choose-and-cut sales accounted for 28% of real tree sales in 2018, he said. Sales increased to 34% over the past two years.
In all, 20 million to 30 million live trees are sold each holiday season, Hundley said, and most are purchased during the two weekends after Thanksgiving.
“When you think of a Christmas tree, it’s the second-most important part of the season after the birth of Jesus,” said Tom Goldscheitter of Cabot, who owns Goldscheitter Christmas Tree Farm in Buffalo Township. “It’s the centerpiece where you display many of your precious decorations.
“It’s a big deal.”
Tree shortage?
There may not be as many live trees from which to choose this year.
A few years of excessive rain caused root rot and a year of extreme heat led to damaged stock, farmers said. Many farmers are getting older, aren’t planting as many trees and don’t have anyone to take over their businesses. And deer and other animals can wreak havoc on trees, which take at minimum 10 years to grow, farmers said.
McKinney Christmas Tree Farm in Fawn, which usually offers choose-and-cut trees, decided to offer only precut trees this year. Owner Gary McKinney said he doesn’t have as many trees as in past years because of extreme weather and damage from deer, who have natural urges to rub their antlers on trees. On part of his 23-acre farm, he decided not to mow around the seedlings in hopes of deterring deer from destroying future Christmas trees.
“This farm is too big to put fencing all the way around,” said McKinney, who has been selling Christmas trees since 1980.
Preston Fleming, owner of Fleming’s Farm in Derry Township near New Alexandria, said there are fewer farmers nowadays.
He said he knew 230 tree farmers in the 1970s. Today, that number is five.
Finding the right balance between mature trees and seedlings that will replenish the fields requires time, patience and planning, experts said.
Nurseries don’t have as many seedlings, so that is going to continue to affect the number of trees available, said Fleming, who planted 22,000 this year.
“Growing trees takes a lot of work,” he said. “I have plenty of trees, but I can’t sell them all because it will wipe out the field, and then next year I won’t have any.”
Goldscheitter, who has been selling trees for more than 20 years, agreed. He said growers don’t want to sell every tree because they need to ensure inventory for the following year. He has 4,000 trees.
Mytrysak purchased her farm with her husband, Brandon Mytrysak, in 2019. He brought direct experience to the business: His grandparents owned a small Christmas tree farm in Brush Valley, Indiana County.
The couple’s farm encompasses 60 acres and has more than 50,000 trees.
It’s one of those early-bird-gets-the-worm situations, said Brian Wolyniak of Penn State Extension, the urban forestry educator for Southwestern Pennsylvania, based in Allegheny County.
The current supply is based on what growers forecast eight to 12 years ago when they planted seedlings.
“Who has a crystal ball to know what the economy will be like for people to spend money on Christmas trees?” Wolyniak said. “When tree nurseries were planting new trees in 2008, they had dealt with a recession and a consumer pullback on nonessentials like Christmas trees.”
It’s not that consumers won’t find a live tree, he said. It’s just that they might not find the tree they want.
The experience
There are several types of trees, from fir to spruce to cypress to cedar. Choosing the right one sometimes takes a village.
Henry Nutbrown, who with wife Sue owns Nutbrown’s Christmas Tree Farm in Collier, recalled a family where the kids couldn’t agree on a tree — until they spotted an Elf on the Shelf. (The father had handed Nutbrown the elf to tuck on a tree.)
“Once the kids saw the elf, that became the tree they were taking home,” said Nutbrown, who has been selling trees for six decades. “This is such a fun experience every year. I love seeing families walk through the trees until you hear the words, ‘I found one!’”
Nutbrown said he loves the business because he enjoys seeing people walk among rows of greenery to select the special tree that will be displayed in their home. This year, 400 trees are available on his 12-acre farm.
Stacey Mytrysak recalled a couple who got engaged among the trees, complete with champagne. She also remembered a customer who came by to buy trees for people who are homebound.
Hundley said the memory created when choosing a live tree is one that lives on forever. “Those years with young children go by really fast,” he said.
That is why the Davis family went to Nutbrown’s.
“This is our first time picking out and cutting down our own tree,” said Sabrah Davis of South Fayette, who was at the farm with husband Chuck Davis and children Jacob, 15, Ava, 12, and Tyler, 10. “We want to be like the Griswolds,” she added with a chuckle, referring to the family in the comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
They recently moved into a new home. Tyler said the tree — a Douglas fir — is “perfect.”
“This was awesome because we all did it together, and we all agreed,” Sabrah Davis said.
The trend of “agritainment” — that is, farm-based entertainment and activities such as corn mazes, apple picking, hayrides, sleigh rides and visits with Santa — is helping to drive demand, Hundley said.
At Mytrysak’s farm, for instance, there is a gift shop, photo cutout boards to take pictures, pony rides, food and other activities, Stacey Mytrysak said.
Millennials have been a driving force, Hundley said. They tend to seek out products that are natural and meaningful, he said.
“Demand for real Christmas trees continues to increase as millennial families create lasting Christmas memories,” Hundley said.
Patty and Scott Gongaware of Middlesex, Butler County, own Grateful Acres Tree Farm. They sell trees by appointment.
“Last year was a pretty good year because people wanted to be outside because of covid,” Patty Gongaware said. “People were craving a new, fun experience. Families take pictures with their children as they grow. It’s a multi-generational activity.”
“Every tree is unique,” Hundley said. “It becomes a one-of-a-kind icon for each year in your family’s history. … The search for the perfect tree and the memories made around it create an authentic experience that artificial trees can’t replace.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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