Christmas Tree Glut Has Growers Grim

A glut of Christmas trees is cutting down the market for New Hampshire trees, once in demand as far south as Miami.

The problem is that a lot of large tree farms were started in the 1970s, and their trees are now on the market.

But growers are fighting back with some creative marketing.

“You have to take the Walt Disney approach to selling these days,” said one tree farmer.

“Choose and cut” tree farms are putting on parties where buyers sip hot drinks, sing carols, go on hay rides and make tree hunting an occasion. Growers have learned that the days when they could just sit around and watch the grass, er, trees grow are long gone.