Christmas tree demand starts strong in greater Chattanooga area

photo Gabby Snyder, of Dunlap, Tenn., gets a feel for the Christmas tree her family purchased Friday at the Weaver Tree Farms lot on Signal Mountain Road. Her parents, Andrea Snyder, second from left, Jerry Snyder and brother, Gage Snyder wait for an attendant to help load the tree.

Friday afternoon, Cyndi Landrigan answered questions at her Crossville, Tenn., Christmas tree farm, ARCY Acres, for about six minutes before customer demands pulled her away.

"It's an extremely busy day," she said. "Trees are fine, business is good."

ARCY Acres opened the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and Landrigan said business as of Friday was ahead of recent years.

"We're not way ahead of last year, but we are ahead," she said.

That could be really good news for Christmas tree growers, as 2013 was the best business year since pre-recession times for them, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

According to a survey conducted by the organization, 33 million real Christmas trees were purchased in the United States in 2013, which was a 35 percent increase over 2012, a bleak year for real trees.

Only 24.5 million real Christmas trees were sold in 2012, according the NCTA, and that was the least amount since 2007, when their data begins.

John Weaver, owner of Weaver Tree Farms, observed traffic at his roadside lot off Signal Mountain Road in Chattanooga on Friday, as customers buzzed around and farm employees catered to those customers' needs.

Jerry Snyder and his family kept to their Black Friday tradition and journeyed down from Dunlap, Tenn., to find a tree.

"Every year we come right here," said Snyder.

Andrea Snyder said the family returns to the Weaver tent because they like the service and because it's local. And they always choose a real tree because it fills the house with the smell of Christmas.

It's a tradition she's carried on since she was little.

The Snyders chose a tall fir tree, which was bound and loaded -- with some effort -- on the roof of their white SUV.

Standing away from the whiz of passing cars and the dry whine of a chain saw engine, owner John Weaver talked some about the business he's been running for 28 years now.

"I started back when I was in college at [Appalachian State University] to make a little extra money for school," he said.

The Weaver farm is in West Jefferson, N.C., but Weaver operates the Chattanooga tent every year and owns the Signal Mountain Road property where it sits.

He said the weekend following Thanksgiving is usually busy, but the first weekend of December is almost always the busiest.

"It gets worse," he joked.

Standing under a cloudless afternoon sky and soaking in the warm aroma of freshly-cut firs is the best part of the job, Weaver said.

Seeing new faces, old faces and shaking folks hands is what Weaver looks forward to all year.

The hard part is getting to this point.

What a lot of customers don't understand is the time and work behind Christmas tree farming, said Weaver.

He pointed out some the largest trees on the lot, full-bodied 10- to 12-footers with a perfect tapering shape.

Those trees are upwards of $100 to $150. But they were planted a decade ago and have been cared for, through stretches with too little rain and too much rain.

Despite production costs continually rising, Weaver said the farm hasn't raised its prices significantly in about six years.

He estimates the Signal Mountain Road stand will sell between 1,800 and 2,000 trees this season. Plus, Weaver Tree Farms sells trees to wholesalers.

It's enough to be a steady, single income for the family.

And for every tree the farm cuts, two or three more are planted, another fact most folks don't know, said Weaver.

Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.

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