COVID-19 has changed our world in many ways. While it's easy to think of the negative effects, we've also seen a desire to return to old traditions.
One example: buying real Christmas trees.
The National Christmas Tree Association reported in 2020, while the demand was higher, sellers could only sell so many. It takes 7-10 years to grow a typical "Christmas tree."
"Sales grew at a more rapid pace and available inventories sold out in many cases. Since a large number of additional trees to sell in 2020 were simply not available, the number of trees sold during the season did not increase," the association reported. "In fact, fewer trees may have been available in 2020 than previous years, while the sell-through of existing inventory was extremely high. Ultimately, it was a very strong year for farm-grown tree sales."
This year, Gov. Mike Parson held a ceremony proclaiming this December as Christmas Tree Month in Missouri. At the ceremony, he honored winners of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association's annual wreath and tree contests, which were held earlier this year at the association's annual convention.
"A Christmas tree is a classic symbol of the holiday season," Parson said in a news release. "I can think of no better way to kick off this Christmas season than decorating a tree raised right here in Missouri. Tree farms located in all areas of the state make it easy to choose the perfect tree for every home and family."
The 2021 winning tree and wreath come from Steve and Teresa Meier, of Meier Horseshoe Pines in Jackson, Missouri, Parson's office said in the release. The Meier family began growing trees and family traditions at their small business in 1988 with a team of Belgian horses and a wagon to take visitors to handpick the perfect tree.
This year's tree in the Capitol is a Loblolly Pitch, a relatively new hybrid known for strong branches and fast growth. The tree is 10 feet tall and only four years old, and was raised at Meier Horseshoe Pines from a seedling that originated at the Missouri State Forest Nursery in Licking.
We welcome the renewed interest in real Christmas trees. Until the 1980s, when artificial trees came out, it was typical for a family to a Christmas tree farm and pick out their perfect tree, which they shoved in the back of their station wagon after employees used a machine to shake out the loose pine needles and put netting around the tree.
It was a time-honored tradition and a way for families to bond during the Christmas season.
Want to visit a Christmas tree farm in your area? Visit MissouriGrownUSA.com or MissouriChristmasTrees.org. And if you'd like a real tree real quick, visit the Optimist Club of Jefferson City's Christmas tree lot near the corner of Dunklin and Broadway streets.
News Tribune