ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Post-Thanksgiving weekend means Christmas Tree shopping for many but around the country, multiple factors are taking a toll on the annual tradition.
But one of Roanoke’s oldest Christmas tree farms is enjoying its best season in years.
Hamill’s Christmas Tree Farm in Roanoke began selling trees in 1974 and is celebrating its 50th season of operation.
They just opened for the year and will stay open until tree supplies run out, which could take longer than it has in the last several years.
“There’s been a shortage, so the last couple years we ended up closing early,” said John Hamill, owner of Hamill Christmas Tree Farm. “As early as December 7. But this year we’re in better shape in terms of the number of trees.”
Elsewhere, farms have been impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
Avery Farms in North Carolina is looking at a rebuild that owners say could take multiple years after flooding took out thousands of its trees.
“We had 60-to-80,000 trees that we’ve lost,” said Graham Avery, an employee of the farm. “At $30 to $55 wholesale per tree, that’s a tremendous amount of money.”
Hamill said he feels for the farms that have been impacted, but his farm has avoided negative impacts from the storm.
He said his family is thankful to continue their long-standing tradition of bringing holiday cheer to families in the Roanoke Valley.
“Sometimes I’ll ask people how long they’ve been buying here,” said Hamill. “And there are cases of definitely over 20 years. And sometimes, the children will grow up and come here and buy trees.”