RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — In parts of western North Carolina, Christmas trees are big business, but that business has been threatened by Hurricane Helene. Tree growers in the western part of the state fear damage to roads and bridges could threaten sales this year.
North Carolina Christmas tree growers harvest between 5 and 6 million tree every year, resulting in about $250 million in sales. Employing nearly 7,000 workers, tree farms play a critical role in employing people in small mountain communities, many of which were hit hardest by Helene.
Government officials in Avery County, where Christmas trees have long been economic drivers, are now asking North Carolinians to consider purchasing real trees this year in order to support businesses in western North Carolina.
The Avery County Cooperative Extension is working to identify growers who are landlocked due to roads or bridges that are washed out. Teams from Washington State and the U.S. Army Corpse of Engineers are coordinating with Avery County to get trees transported to other parts of the state.
“It’s not affected us with the Christmas trees in the fields, but it’s really affected us with the roads,” said Larry Smith, a Fraser fir tree grower. The main highways, getting tractor trailers in here, our access roads, and here on the farm getting our trees out.
Smith is confident in his industry’s ability to have a fruitful season.
“We’ll get it done,” he said. “It’ll be challenging, but everybody’s come in helping in every way,”
Avery County is asking the public to buy real North Carolina Fraser firs, saying this simple act could help keep growers and their employees survive the season. The NC Christmas Tree Association encourages people to visit their website to find choose and cut farms or retail lots in your area. They hope more Fraser fir sales can help their local economies rebound after the damage caused by Helene.
“We may turn a real negative into a positive,” Smith said. “It may end up being the best year we’ve ever had. There’s always a brighter side to look at things.”