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US Christmas tree growers are reporting a brighter holiday season as higher prices for imported artificial trees, linked to President Trump’s tariff policy, nudge some shoppers toward real, farm-grown trees. Industry advocates are also leaning on marketing—highlighted by a Home Depot advertisement—to encourage more households to choose live-cut trees, which farmers say supports local jobs and rural businesses during a key sales window. The articles frame the moment as a competition between real and artificial trees, with both price pressures and branding shaping what ends up in living rooms this December.
![Artificial trees are taking a bite out of the Christmas tree farming industry.](https://kagiproxy.com/img/Y9CkL6Pr8nn08c28OH4CE_IiYfx2W1QxwrWa1axT-iU73dknBM9aLjqW7lTt0z1tgXbHSIExrjvAvcGZGooOjYX5ILp85XZdwuOhIGfBT5DbqJaDI1jzGmH_FBfI5WujKLWq5h1PoK5lC_fzP...</div><div class="hidden" id="preview-full"><p>US Christmas tree growers are reporting a brighter holiday season as higher prices for imported artificial trees, linked to President Trump’s tariff policy, nudge some shoppers toward real, farm-grown trees. Industry advocates are also leaning on marketing—highlighted by a Home Depot advertisement—to encourage more households to choose live-cut trees, which farmers say supports local jobs and rural businesses during a key sales window. The articles frame the moment as a competition between real and artificial trees, with both price pressures and branding shaping what ends up in living rooms this December.</p><img src=)
Highlights:
- Marketing push: Real-tree promoters say national advertising and retailer partnerships have given the industry fresh momentum heading into peak late-December buying.
- Retail battlefield: The New York Times describes a long-running contest between tree farmers and artificial-tree sellers, with each side trying to define “value” and convenience for consumers.
- Trade ripple: The Financial Times links tariffs to supply-chain pricing shifts that can reshape seasonal consumer choices without any change in the product itself.
Perspectives:
- US Christmas tree growers: Growers say tariff-driven price increases for artificial trees have made real trees more competitive this season, helping farm sales during the holidays. (Financial Times)
- Christmas tree marketing group and growers: Industry advocates want more Americans to buy live-cut trees and say a Home Depot ad has provided holiday optimism for the sector. (The New York Times)
- Artificial tree sellers and consumers prioritizing convenience: The New York Times portrays artificial trees as a growing competitive force, with convenience and repeat use among the appeals drawing some households away from fresh-cut trees. (The New York Times)