Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 6, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 11 e report did not draw any conclusions about why this shi happened, but conjectured it may have been because of COVID pandemic- related restrictions. e association urged Christmas tree growers to keep in touch with these buyers and make sure they are able to easily order trees again in the future. Highfields Christmas Tree Farm in Graon was one such local farm to feel the unexpected 2020 rush. Joseph Meichelbeck, who owns the farm, said last year the farm was sold out of trees by midday on the Sunday aer anksgiving and had to shut down. For him, that's in the realm of selling 500-600 trees. "We had record demand," Meichelbeck, who previously spent his career working in finance. "It was crazy. People were just wanting to get out of their house." Unlike Morin, though, Meichelbeck did not plant more trees than usual this year, noting it takes eight to 10 years for new trees to mature enough to sell. At the moment, he has about 5,000 trees in the ground growing. "We're certainly in a seller's market right now. ere's no question," he said. Staying on top of the market e apparent surge of popularity in farm-fresh Christmas trees is taking place against the backdrop of an evolving industry. e average age of farmers across the country is increasing, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2017 Census of Agriculture, coming in at 57.5 as of that census, up 1.2 years from 2012. Among Christmas tree farmers in Massachusetts, Meichelbeck said the average age is probably more than 60. As farmers' ages increase, so will the number of farms available to change hands in the coming years. While a younger generation of farmers have been showing interest in produce and flower farming in Central Massachusetts, getting into tree farming is a bit of a different story. While a farm can turn around a produce crop in less than a calendar year, it can take up to a decade to see a profit from Christmas trees. At the same time, the operational aspect of running a holiday-oriented farm business has changed, with farmers now diversifying their offerings. What in previous decades may have been a straightforward choose-and- cut tree farm is now a family-outing destination, where farmers increasingly offer refreshments, wreaths, or even a gi shop. ese aren't necessarily hardships, but they do represent a change and a more involved day-to-day business model. Davagian Tree Farm in Sutton provides precisely those kinds of perks, which owner Jan Davagian said were added on over the years. For her, it's been a welcome expansion, and she enjoys helping to hand make the additional items the farm sells. "We have a great time," said Davagian, whose family is in fourth generation working the farm. at gi shop operation allowed the farm to stay open longer last year, too, she said, despite selling out of trees in two weekends. Davagian Tree Farm increased the number of trees it planted this year, she said, but not as a reaction to last year's rush on products. Rather, she said, the farm has been steadily growing its tree stock from year to year. e farm now has seven acres devoted to tree growth, and workers plant in the realm of 300 to 500 trees per year, depending on space. at number of plantings is reflective of how many trees the farm sells on a given year, Davagian said. As for differences this year, Davagian is looking forward to having her staff back and soened pandemic restrictions. In 2020, she said, employees were unable to work because of health concerns and worries about exposure during the late fall and early winter coronavirus surge. Overall, going into the 2021 season, her spirits are up. "It's a very pleasant, fun business to be in," Davagian said. Build with Us. Grow with Us. gardnerma.com p 978.632.1780 • f 978.630.1767 • Chamber@gardnerma.com Why locate your business in Greater Gardner? Flexible and ready workforce More aordable residential market Excellence in healthcare and education Quality of life: attractions, dining, shopping, outdoor recreational settings Aordable commercial and industrial market rates Turnkey properties Pad-ready building sites Opportunity Zone availability Easy Route 2 Corridor highway access The Greater Gardner region of Northern Worcester County consists of the City of Gardner and 6 the surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Barre, Hubbardston, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon. Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce Christmas tree farms 390 Acres in production 2,801 Number of trees cut 82,524 Mass. Christmas trees, by the numbers Source: 2017 Census of Agriculture from the USDA W Live trees sold nationally each year 25-30 million Christmas trees currently growing nationwide 350 million Acres producing Christmas trees nationwide 350,000 Christmas trees nationally, by the numbers Source: National Christmas Tree Association Stephen Bianco plants new Christmas tree saplings at Arrowhead Acres in Uxbridge. Shawn Lees, the daughter of Dave Morin, mows the rows in-between Christmas trees at Arrowhead Acres.

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