Key Takeaways
- Christmas tree farmers in western North Carolina are rebuilding after Hurricane Helene caused significant damage and losses in 2024.
- Despite the devastation, growers are optimistic about the industry’s strength and sales, with many reporting lively sales before the holidays.
- The region is the nation’s second-largest Christmas tree producer, harvesting around 4 million trees annually, mainly Fraser firs.
- Farmers are focusing on rebuilding, replanting, and restoring their lands, with some expecting it to take years to replace lost trees.
- The industry remains strong, with many growers reporting good sales and a great growing season in 2025.
Introduction to Christmas Tree Farming in Western North Carolina
Christmas tree farmers in western North Carolina are still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, which tore through the region in October 2024. The storm caused widespread damage to homes, farms, roads, and infrastructure, resulting in estimated losses of around $125 million in ornamental nurseries and Christmas trees alone. However, despite the challenges, growers are optimistic about the industry’s strength and sales, with many reporting lively sales before the holidays. North Carolina is the nation’s second-largest Christmas tree producer, harvesting around 4 million trees annually, mainly Fraser firs, in the western part of the state.
Rebuilding and Recovery Efforts
At Avery Farms, a 200-year-old family operation in Avery County, Helene ripped out about 80,000 Christmas trees, wrecked fields, equipment, and buildings, and destroyed the home of manager Graham Avery’s parents. However, the family has been focused on rebuilding, with Avery’s parents’ home being rebuilt with the help of donations and volunteers. The family has also bulldozed damaged fields, fertilized the soil, and planted around 20,000 new trees this spring, a long-term project to regain pre-Helene output. As Christmas trees take from six to 12 years to mature, the family is taking a long-term approach to recovery. Despite significantly reduced inventory, Avery said this season’s sales have been "very, very good," and the farm has doubled its wreath output, shipping them nationwide.
Industry Outlook and Optimism
Jennifer Greene, executive director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, said the industry remains strong despite the devastation to some growers. The 2025 growing season offered some relief, with a great spring and April rainfall, resulting in a good growing season for the trees. Dee Clark, owner of Christmas Corner and C&G Nursery in Avery County, shared similar optimism, despite retail sales plummeting last year due to a washed-out road. Clark’s son has developed social-marketing efforts to boost sales, and the farm is focused on repairs, replanting, and restoring the land. While it will take years to replace lost trees, Clark said the Christmas tree industry in western North Carolina is probably in the best shape it’s ever been, in terms of the supply of trees.
Resilience and Community Support
The region’s Christmas tree growers have shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, with many farmers and experts praising the community’s problem-solving spirit and self-reliance. At Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm, owner Sam Cartner said he felt fortunate that no lives or homes were lost in the flooding, but landslides destroyed up to 10,000 trees. The Cartners worked quickly to make repairs and had a "relatively normal harvest" last fall, despite major damage to roads, bridges, and culverts on the property. One of their trees was even selected to be displayed at the White House, becoming a symbol of resilience for the region. Jamie Bookwalter, an extension specialist at North Carolina State University, said the Cartners’ ability to harvest and deliver the tree, despite everything the region had dealt with, exemplified "the spirit of the mountains and also Christmas tree growers."
Challenges and Future Developments
While the industry remains strong, farmers are facing new challenges, including the impact of climate change on Christmas tree production. Bookwalter said researchers are working to develop trees more resilient to the changing climate, as farming becomes increasingly difficult due to unpredictable temperatures and weather patterns. The public’s support for the region’s growers and farms has been "humbling," according to Will Kohlway IV, a Christmas tree production extension specialist at NC State. He emphasized that buying a tree supports a North Carolina farmer, even if purchased at a big-box store, and that the tree "really represents probably a pretty small farmer." As the region continues to rebuild and recover, the Christmas tree industry in western North Carolina is expected to remain a vital part of the local economy and community.
