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The canadian producers of natural trees for Christmas have had weeks busy. Canada is behind the united States and Germany, the third largest producer worldwide, but tops the list of exporters. Growers exported about 1.5 million trees, 85% of the national production. These pines and firs reach to countries such as Panama, France, Jamaica and the Philippines, but the americans are their main customers. The problem is that this year the demand of the neighbor to the south grew considerably, causing shortages and higher prices for a good part of the canadians for the first time in a decade. In provinces such as Alberta —located in the west of the country— the cost of a traditional christmas ornament has been increased by up to 25%, while in Quebec, where more trees are produced, recorded rises of between 10% and 15%.
The canadian Association of producers of Christmas trees, said in a press release that this situation is the result of two specific events. On the one hand, the crisis american of 2008 had a strong impact on consumers ‘ pockets, thereby causing the areas of cultivation were reduced by the inability to cut the trees that were not to sell. In addition, climatic variations in recent years damaged not a few copies. “It takes about 10 years to grow these trees,” said the association. In this way, several producers of the united States had to apply to a higher number of pine and spruce in canada.
Ontario, nova Scotia and British Columbia there are many companies that specialize in this decoration of christmas, but Quebec is the province with the largest activity in the sector: 55% of the national production. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec, the united States produced 17.3 million trees in 2015, but 15.1 million in 2017. In addition, its population was an increase of 11 million people in that period. “The good performance of the u.s. economy in recent years has led certainly to households increased expenditures on these festivities,” the report adds.
Brock Friesen, a producer of trees in Alberta, told Radio-Canada that the varieties most in demand came increase a 25% of price in this province. “I know that is a lot, but we had no other option,” said Friesen. Also in British Columbia faced difficulties to satisfy the demand for provincial because of the high orders from the united States. In Quebec, prices rose this year between 10% and 15%.
Rejection of synthetic trees
earlier this month, the canadian producers of natural trees of Christmas appeared in the media, but for another reason. Canadian Tire, one of the large chains of home appliances in the country, broadcast an advertisement which invited the population to opt for artificial trees. Canadian producers have asked for the withdrawal of the ad, pointing out that the natural trees grow in controlled areas and release oxygen for years, while the artificial is produced with oil derivatives. However, Canadian Tire has not cancelled the advertising, and noted that it also sells in their facilities christmas tree natural.
