NC Christmas Tree Industry is Open for Business Amid Hurricane Helene Recovery

When Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina in late September, strong winds and catastrophic flooding caused widespread destruction. 

Some Christmas tree farms experienced damage due to landslides. Cartners Christmas Tree Farm in Avery County lost about 7,000 trees, for example.

Despite the damage, NC State Extension specialist Will Kohlway said Hurricane Helene won’t have a significant impact on the supply of Christmas trees this year. 

“North Carolina growers have worked incredibly hard to ensure a successful season,” said Kohlway, who specializes in Christmas tree marketing and production.

Kohlway added, “If someone wants to buy a real Christmas tree that was grown in North Carolina, they’ll be able to find one.”

In North Carolina, Fraser fir is the most common species grown and sold by Christmas tree farms, with about 850 growers producing more than 50 million trees annually.

Fraser firs grow naturally at elevations of at least 5,000 feet in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. 

Alleghany, Ashe and Avery counties are the top producers of Fraser fir in western North Carolina, though the species is grown in more than a dozen counties across the region.

North Carolina growers ship Fraser firs to retailers all across the state and much of the United States, according to NC State Extension specialist Jamie Bookwalter.

Bookwalter, a mountain conifer specialist, said Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage to roads and bridges, hindering some growers from accessing their fields.

Local, state and federal agencies, including NC State Extension personnel, have been collaborating to help growers harvest and transport trees out of the area.

This year’s harvest was largely on schedule, according to Kohlway. Cartners Christmas Tree Farm was even able to provide a Fraser fir to the White House.

Kohlway and Bookwalter encourage the public to purchase a Fraser fir if they want to support growers across western North Carolina.

Fraser firs can be purchased at retail lots, choose-and-cut farms, nurseries and garden centers, big box stores, and some grocery and hardware stores. 

North Carolina retailers maintain an abundant supply of trees into December, though many consumers purchase their trees in late November.

The North Carolina Christmas Tree Association offers a directory of retail locations where Fraser firs and other real trees can be purchased.

If traveling to western North Carolina to purchase a tree, consumers should consider checking for road closures to make sure they don’t need to find an alternative route.

Bookwalter said prices should be somewhat normal despite the logistical challenges that growers faced in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Currently, the price for a Fraser fir ranges anywhere from $65 to $250 depending on the size of the tree and the retail venue. 

After the holidays, Kohlway and Bookwalter will work with local and state partners to fully assess storm-related damages and its implications for future growing seasons.