(NewsNation) — Christmas trees could be in short supply for several years.
A nationwide shortage is projected, thanks to the northeastern drought and North Carolina floods. The state is the second-highest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Some farms have lost hundreds of trees.
Hurricane Helene wipes out farms
For generations, the Avery family has run Avery Farms in Newland, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene wiped out their homes, Christmas trees and farm equipment.
This year, they only have tabletop trees and wreaths to sell.
Another farm in Georgia, Gays Christmas Tree Farm, says they had about 5,000 trees leaning at a 45-degree angle after Helene.
Thankfully, dozens of volunteers helped straighten the trees.
Concerns in the Northeast
About 30% of the Northeast is in a severe drought with the potential to affect future farm sales.
It takes about seven to eight years for a sapling to grow into a mature Christmas tree. The world is on track to see its hottest year on record. The changing temperatures can make things difficult for farmers.
That also means that conditions from years prior could be a factor in today’s tree shortages.
In Ballwin Missouri, where Sullivan Farms sells wholesale trees, owner Lynn Sullivan says recruiting new growers each year is the key to staving off shortages.
In the meantime, some farms’ losses have been a boon for others.
One customer flew to Missouri, rented a U-Haul and drove trees back to Florida because they were hard to find, Sullivan said.
