People in the market for a real Christmas tree in 2024 might get sticker shock, but not for the reasons they might expect.
At a time when the price of just about everything from food to gas is becoming too much for many families, businesses like Andy Smith's Christmas Trees in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood say people are still shopping.Whether it's a family tradition or someone's first time picking out a real Christmas tree, this lot has approximately 3,000 trees for sale from Mossyrock, Washington. Even midday on a weekday, KOMO News saw customers filing in and picking out their perfect tree.
"We have not raised our prices even though I think the inflation hit us a few years ago," Smith explained. "It just takes so much energy to put these things together. There are helicopters involved, and there are hundreds of people working out on these farms right now cutting. That’s kind of in the ballpark where we’re at. I’m sorry if that scares people away. I get it."
The owner of Donna's Trees and Donna's son Leo Van Hollebeke said their lots in Interbay and Bothell have not boosted prices in years, since the tree shortage. He said their in-state inventory is no longer a problem.