'The Burn': Christmas Tree Shortage Has CA Customers Seeing Red

CALIFORNIA — A Christmas tree supply issue this year has shoppers seeing red.

Literally.

And that’s if they get to see any at all.

A record-setting heat wave in the Northwest over the summer has been blamed for the shortage, Reuters reports.

“It got so hot in Oregon and Washington this year that the trees got sun burnt,” said Stephen, who manages Clancy’s Christmas Trees in San Francisco (he asked that his last name not be published).

Stephen, who grows his own trees in Silverton, Oregon, said he’s had to raise prices around 10 percent from what’s being called “the burn,” an extreme heat wave that left trees sunburned, with a red tinge that’s a tough sell for tree shoppers.

“Nobody wants to buy a red tree," Stephen said. "They want green ones, and that’s a big part of the shortage.”

An industry insider is advising tree shoppers to snag what’s available before it’s too late.

“If you see something you like, buy it,” American Christmas Tree Association Executive Director Jami Warner told CNBC.

“The quantities this year will be fewer than usual and, of course, the consumer will have to take the brunt of higher prices. They won’t be hugely higher, but they will be higher.”

Artificial trees, which are mostly made in China, are in short supply too, NPR reports, noting the impact of the ongoing supply chain shortage.

Stephen said he opened his shop about four days earlier than he normal would amid calls from customers to make sure he has them on his lot.

“People are talking about it,” Stephen said. “It’s a big concern for our customers.”

Stephen runs a family-run Christmas tree business his grandfather launched in 1948. He admits he’d always encourage customers to buy their trees from family-owned businesses but said it's especially important this year amid the supply shortage.

“Stick with a mom-and-pop,” Stephen said.

“We’re the local ones, and we have a little more control over how we get our trees and harvest our trees and make sure we have the best trees compared to chain stores who make a phone call and put an order in just like you would for takeout dinner.

“We have a better chance of getting nicer trees.”