CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Experts in Oregon, the nation’s No. 1 supplier of Christmas trees, say prices for a holiday evergreen will remain higher this year due to a tight supply.
Oregon State University’s College of Forestry says there are 400 fewer Oregon growers than there were 15 years ago and less labor intensive crops are being grown on land once used for Christmas trees.
Many tree farms went out of business about a decade ago.
On average, consumers paid $78 for a tree last year, up $3 from 2017.