Canadian Minister of Trade Ed Fast on Friday predicted a rise in Christmas tree exports this season, amid reported shortages in the US.
The US’ northern neighbor is known for producing bushy, winter-resilient firs, pines and spruces, ideal for decoration during the holiday season.
“Christmas trees represent a key export for Canada,” Fast said in a statement. “Following a decrease in demand for Canadian Christmas trees during the recession in the United States in 2008 and 2009, Canadian tree exports are on the rise, especially due to a Christmas tree shortage in the United States.”
Canada is the world’s largest exporter of Christmas trees, according to the government. Last year, it shipped more than 1.5 million Christmas trees worth C$28 million (US$24 million) to the US, Japan and other countries.
The shortage of trees looming in the US — which some growers dispute — is blamed on a dwindling number of local tree farms, severe weather that damaged crops and a spike in demand.
According to the US National Christmas Tree Association, Americans bought more than 33 million Christmas trees last year, up from 24 million in 2012.
In related news, a western New York brewery has constructed a Christmas tree out of hundreds of beer kegs — all that is missing is the beer.
The Genesee Brewing Co built the 7m Christmas tree out of 300 stainless steel kegs outside its Brew House in downtown Rochester, New York.
The keg tree is trimmed with 180m of green lights and topped by a rotating Genesee sign. More than 20 of Genesee’s elves — also known as employees — got to work designing and building the keg tree.
Alas, beer lovers, the kegs are empty, but the company says when the tree is dismantled the kegs will return to the production line and be refilled.
The official public lighting ceremony is set for Thursday.
Additional reporting by AP
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