WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Tree farmers pin holiday hopes on last-minute shoppers

Tree farmers pin holiday hopes on last-minute shoppers

West Lebanon, New Hampshire - December 24, 2009

For the folks perusing the Christmas tree stand off 12A in West Lebanon, N.H., it's never too late to buy some holiday joy. Like Dave Chestnut of Canaan, who was out shopping Tuesday afternoon to surprise his fiancée with a tree.

"She wanted a tree and she gets what she wants this year," Chestnut said.

The Christmas trees on display here were all cut from a tree farm just up the road in Lyme. But the fourth-generation tree farm was feeling some recession woes at the beginning of this year's season.

"There was some concern," tree farmer Ben Nichols said. "It seemed like we got off to a later start. This past weekend was surprisingly good."

The Nichols Farm sells up to 15,000 Christmas trees every year, both wholesale and direct to consumers, and owners say that this year is right on target.

Of course tree farms are not just big business in New Hampshire, in fact, the holiday balsams and Fraser firs bring in close to $10 million every year to the Vermont economy. But Nichols says it's not about competition, rather collaboration between the two states.

"We are part of the New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Growers Association and both New Hampshire and Vermont work closely in those ties," he explained.

It's an organization that prides itself on a local product, whichever state may call it home.

"Trying to promote a fresh quality tree. Something that is renewable, and provides us with clean air," Nichols said.

Not to mention a revenue stream that stays right here in our region.

"You got to keep the money in town," Chestnut said.

A town made partially from trees-- in two states that rely on them.

Adam Sullivan - WCAX News