Christmas tree sellers in Orange County are preparing for the seasonal rush, as a tree shortage strikes after a year of dry spells.
Since opening operations in 1944, Noonan’s Christmas Trees, a tree seller in Costa Mesa, has never experienced a holiday tree shortage until this winter, according to its owner Doug Noonan.
“There is definitely a shortage,” Noonan told The Epoch Times.
In comparison to previous years, the tree lot is experiencing about a 30 percent decrease in supply, Noonan said.
Heatwaves across the West Coast—including Oregon and Washington, from where Noonan imported the trees—have contributed to the lack of inventory.
As demand is expected to remain steady, Noonan’s has increased the prices by $10.
To make up for the limited number of trees on the lot, Noonan’s is also making next year’s crops available to ensure there’s enough to go around.
While residents may be rushing to find the perfect tree before trees run out, Noonan’s still has various sizes available, except those between seven and eight feet tall, Noonan said.
The Tanaka Farms in Irvine also anticipated a shortage after experiencing one in 2020.
Wildfires, trucking shortages, and supply chain issues have all contributed to the lack of supply on tree farm lots, Tanaka spokeswoman Joni Newman told The Epoch Times.
With many clients getting ready to pick out their perfect tree, Tanaka planned ahead and ordered extra this year to avoid running low on trees before Christmas. A full shipment was received on Nov. 22 and is available for purchase.
“We just wanted to make sure we got them,” said Newman, who expects tree prices to be similar to last year.
