![]() ![]() He added that the number of members in his association has shrunk, down to 73 from 300 about 20 years ago. “In Quebec we have the numbers because we export our trees, Nova Scotia trees stay more in Canada,” Downey said. He admitted there was a “bit of competition” between Quebec and Nova Scotia. sells up to 30,000 trees a year, said Quebec’s Eastern Townships produces about 70 per cent of the provinces Christmas trees. The market is now for the suppliers and we have a small profit.”ĭowney, whose third-generation farm in Hatley, Que. “There was a big downturn about 10 years ago, when there were too many trees and suppliers were selling and losing money. ![]() where there’s a good return on the dollar,” Downey told CTVNews.ca during the peak harvest in mid-November. ![]() “Quebec is the main exporter of Christmas trees, most go to the U.S. That year more than 15 million trees were cut, amounting to around US$377 million in sales. The latest statistics show some 295,162 acres on just over 15,000 farms were used for Christmas tree production in 2017. Oregon is the top grower in America, according to the U.S. Quebec has the most land for Christmas trees at 8,255 hectares, followed by Nova Scotia at 6,179 hectares.Ĭhristmas tree farm sales in Quebec in 2018 amounted to just over $60 million, followed by $15 million from Nova Scotia.īut Canada’s figures are dwarfed again by its neighbour to the south, where the towns of Estacada in Oregon and Indian County in Pennsylvania both vie for the title “Christmas Tree Capital of the World.” The latest figures from Statistics Canada show the country as a whole has 23,787 hectares dedicated to Christmas tree production. There the largest growers are in Germany and Denmark, with Germany alone producing more trees per year than the whole of the U.S.Īccording to the Christmas Tree Grower Council of Europe, Germany produces 20 million trees per year, 15 million of which are Nordmann Fir. Internationally it would seem Europe has the closest claim to Christmas tree capital of the world. Christmas trees grow from more than 20 species around the world.Ĭhristmas trees in North America are mostly Balsam Fir, native to eastern and central Canada, and Fraser Fir, native to the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, according to Jimmy Downey, president of the Association of Quebec Christmas Tree Growers.Įuropean Christmas trees tend to be Douglas Fir and Nordmann Fir, he explained. This bold claim has a few international challengers. “By the 1950s annual exports had exceeded 3.5 million, half of which came from Lunenburg County.”īut times have changed. “Because of its lush foliage, fragrant aroma and superior needle retention, Nova Scotia Balsam soon became the tree of choice throughout much of North America. “Nova Scotia's cool, moist climate is ideal for growing Balsam Fir,” the association’s website reads. The modern Christmas tree tradition originated in Germany in the 19th century, so it’s appropriate the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association is based in New Germany. On the approach to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, N.S., a sign declares “Lunenburg County: Balsam Fir Christmas Tree Capital of the World.” Parts of the picture-postcard open roads around Nova Scotia are lined with forests full of majestic evergreen pines.
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