I've always been a fan of a real Christmas tree, They smell nice and it's fun to bundle up with the family and find the perfect tree and bring it home. Over the years I've always grown to appreciate artificial trees because they make less of a mess and they're easy to set up and take down.

This year as we get closer to the holiday season Christmas tree experts are sounding the alarm saying you might have a hard time finding a tree for Christmas.

The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) Recommends U.S. Consumers Find Their Christmas Tree Early This Season. Here's what they said in their annual industry overview on the Christmas Tree market and supply

“Every year, we pay close attention to factors impacting the Christmas tree industry so that we can help guide consumers in choosing the right Christmas tree. In 2021, we’re seeing a variety of trends influencing artificial and live Christmas tree supply across the country, and are encouraging consumers to find their tree early this year to avoid shortage impacts,” said ACTA Executive Director Jami Warner.

In 2020, 94 million U.S. households celebrated Christmas by displaying a Christmas tree in their home. Of those trees, 85% were artificial, and 15% were live. Despite expectations of similar consumer demand in 2021, the Christmas tree industry could experience a shortage of both artificial and live trees.

Unprecedented weather events in the Pacific Northwest, including fires, drought, and heatwaves, have impacted live Christmas tree crop yields, with some Oregon farmers reporting losing up to 90% of their crop this summer.

The artificial Christmas tree supply is also facing challenges this year. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic recovery have overwhelmed the U.S. supply chain with increased demand for consumer goods, raw materials, and transportation. Retailers predict that this overload could quadruple shipping costs compared to 2020. This supply chain overload means that there will be fewer artificial trees available for consumer purchase this season, and those that are available will come with a higher price tag.

“We hope that every person who wants a Christmas tree will find their perfect tree this year,” said Warner. “If I can give one piece of advice to consumers right now, it is to find and buy your Christmas tree early. “

If you can't find a Christmas Tree in the store or on a lot you could always do your best Clark Griswold and look for one in the woods. Just remember to bring a saw with you.

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