‘I’ve never seen anything like this’: Heat dome, flooding wreak havoc on B.C. Christmas tree supply
Global News
Chilliwack Christmas tree farmer Arthur Loewen said B.C.’s summer heat dome was unforgiving and he expects to lose up to 1,000 trees that were “burnt” in 45 degree temperatures.
Unless you start the Christmas tree hunt early this season, securing that perfect slice of holiday tradition may be a challenge.
The Canadian Christmas Trees Association said there’s a supply shortage across North America, driven by increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christmas trees are a $100-million a year industry in Canada with $49-million worth of product exported mostly to the U.S., according to executive director Shirley Brennan.
Wholesalers can’t keep up with the retail demand and even IKEA will not be selling real trees at its Canadian stores this holiday season.
The world’s biggest furniture brand wasn’t able to secure the necessary local supply of live Christmas trees to meet the needs of its Canadian business this year.
Brennan said we’re losing Christmas tree farms to owners aging out or retiring while growers in the Pacific Northwest are also battling a lack of cooperation from their silent partner: Mother Nature.
“Unfortunately B.C. has been hit very hard this year with weather extremes,” Brennan told Global News.
The summer heat dome and now a flooding disaster, have wreaked havoc on crops which take a decade to cultivate.
