Christmas trees are big business in the Carolinas. But after a brutal hurricane season and a series of storms that flooded parts of the Carolinas, some Christmas tree growers are feeling the affects as we head into the Christmas time crunch.
Support local Western NC Christmas tree farms hit hard by Helene like Sugar Grove Nursery in Avery County. This 4th-generation farm opens Thanksgiving Day despite recent damage. Buy a tree, support small farms, and shop local businesses nearby. Photos: Kayla Wilcox. #ncwx pic.twitter.com/9W0eeMNG0M
— Ethan Clark wx (@EthanClarkWX) November 26, 2024
Growers are asking for the public’s help as they continue to recover from Hurricane Helene. Helene impacted Christmas tree farm inventory from the Midlands all the way to western North Carolina.
TREE TROUBLE: A christmas tree farm in Waynesville, North Carolina lost 200 to 300 Christmas trees in the wake of Hurricane Helene. https://t.co/Z4uTOXgerS
— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) December 5, 2024
North Carolina, the second-largest Christmas tree producer in the U.S., suffered devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene just before the 2024 holiday season. Polluted water and heavy rains damaged farms, raising concerns about the supply and future of the industry. One farm says they lost up to 60,000- 80,000 trees in Avery County, North Carolina, alone.
One Avery Co farmer lost 60,000 Christmas trees on his 200-year-old family farm to the floods. But when my voice cracked with sadness he said it’s ok. He was so hopeful & full of love for his community, the strangers & neighbors that helped in a disaster, & the new path forward. pic.twitter.com/mu3pg1ogHj
— Elisa Raffa (@Elisa_Raffa) December 2, 2024
Most farmers in South Carolina say about 5-10% of their Christmas tree inventory flooded after Helene dumped more than 20” of rain in a 2 week period in many of the tree farms. High winds also affected the shape of some Christmas trees. Most of the tree’s wind damage was from being leaned over which crushed branches. According to State officials some farms in South Carolina did lose some of their big trees, but they are hoping for a busy holiday crowd over the next few weeks that will buy the trees they have left.
It’s TIME🎶 to buy a SC-grown Christmas tree!🎄
— South Carolina Forestry Commission (@ForestryCommish) December 6, 2024
Did you know South Carolina is home to various types of trees that are commonly used during the holiday season? 🌲
Find a farm near you and bring the sights and scents of the season to your home! #FridayForestryFunny
Photo by… pic.twitter.com/G0vw8MRo5k
Officials are asking people across the eastern US to consider buying a tree from businesses that grow their trees in North and South Carolina. Many of the large box stores get their trees from the Carolinas and a quick call to your local retailer should let you know where their trees came from before you go buy one.
Christmas trees grown in South Carolina come from Upstate to the Lowcountry. Most of the trees are cypress, cedar, and pine varieties. Some farms in the northern parts of SC also grow Fraser firs.
Click here to learn more about South Carolina Christmas trees
And according to the NC Christmas Tree Association, North Carolina Christmas tree growers harvest an average of 5 to 6 million trees every year. That kind of harvest brings in an estimated $250 million in retail value for the state.
The biggest challenge for Christmas tree farmers across western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene has been fixing infrastructure on their property, including roads.
— WCHL & Chapelboro (@WCHLChapelboro) December 1, 2024
via @APhttps://t.co/RQ0i6uJApU
Officials say Christmas tree sales help provide jobs, income, and tax revenue to the area. The South Carolina Christmas Tree Association says that despite the flood damage, they do not expect Christmas tree farms to increase prices this holiday season.
Christmas tree farmers say raising Christmas trees is a family business, and supporting them by getting a Christmas tree from the Carolinas this year will help sustain the legacy for years to come.