Fourth Annual Survey of Real Christmas Tree Growers Provides a Market Outlook with Steady Wholesale Prices

HOWELL, Mich., Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, wholesale growers of real Christmas trees are offering a glimpse into what's ahead for the holiday season. The outlook is filled with holiday cheer: they expect steady demand, consistent supply, and largely unchanged wholesale prices.

That's according to the Real Christmas Tree Board's annual survey¹ of 43 wholesale growers, representing about half-to-two-thirds of the United States' real Christmas tree market.

Wholesale pricing remains largely unchanged

Of the wholesale growers surveyed, 84% said they do not plan to raise wholesale prices for the upcoming season, including those who may lower prices. While the price that a consumer will pay varies and is set by retailers, in a 2024 holiday consumer survey, 90% of respondents who purchased a real Christmas tree said the price they paid was worth it.²

"Growers are prepared, supply is strong, and most are holding wholesale prices steady this year," said Marsha Gray, Executive Director of the Real Christmas Tree Board. "This reflects the consistency of the real Christmas tree industry and the commitment of growers to ensuring that there's a real Christmas tree for everyone who wants one."

While 42% of growers estimate input costs have gone up by up to 5%, the increase mirrors the year-over-year change they experienced during the 2024 season and is not set to impact wholesale prices. Growers appear to be largely absorbing increases rather than passing them along to retailers.

Growers are confident about supply and demand

Consumers can expect a reliable supply and plenty of options to find the tree that is right for them. The industry didn't run out of trees last year or any year before that.

Nearly 8 in 10 growers (79%) expect to sell the same number of trees or more compared to last year, with 32% saying they expect to sell more trees in 2025 than they did in 2024. Of the growers surveyed, 65% expect to sell all the trees they plan to harvest.

Real Christmas trees are easy to find at seasonal lots, choose and cut farms, big box stores, and garden centers nationwide. During the 2024 holiday season, 91% of those surveyed said they had no issue locating a place nearby to purchase a tree and 89% found the tree they wanted at the first place they went.²

As an agricultural commodity under the USMCA, Canadian-produced real Christmas trees are currently exempt from tariffs.

"A real Christmas tree is so much more than a Christmas decoration," said Gray. "Our customers create lasting memories with family and friends while heading out to select their tree and enjoy the scent that will fill their home all season."

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

¹ About the Grower Survey: The Real Christmas Tree Board, in conjunction with FleishmanHillard, fielded a survey of 43 wholesale growers of real Christmas trees across the U.S. Each of the responding growers conducts business in one or more of the following regions: Northwest, West, Southwest, Mid-West, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Combined, the respondents supply half-to-two-thirds of the country's real Christmas trees. The survey was fielded in August 2025; last year, the survey was fielded among 45 wholesale growers in August 2024.  

²About the Post-Season Consumer Survey: TRUE Global Intelligence (TGI), the in-house research practice of FleishmanHillard, fielded a survey of 1,500 Americans adults ages 21 to 54 years. All survey respondents either celebrate/observe Christmas or display a Christmas tree. Respondents were required to either decide or share in the decision of whether and what kind of Christmas tree to put up in their home each year or influence their home's decisionmaker. The survey was fielded from December 21, 2024 to December 30, 2024. The survey has a margin of error of ±2.5% and higher for subgroups.

KNOW YOUR SOURCES

TRUST THOSE WHO GROW AND KNOW

The Real Christmas Tree Board (RCTB) is the media's expert resource for insights about farm-grown Christmas trees. Chartered in 2015 as the Christmas Tree Promotion Board and renamed in 2022, it is a national research and promotion program whose mission is to share the benefits of fresh Christmas trees with consumers through promotion and public relations, while engaging in research to better serve customers and growers. The USDA provides oversight of the RCTB to ensure transparency, accuracy, and fairness in its communications. The RCTB provides the media and public with accurate information, added insights, and the latest news and inspiration for the season. It represents real Christmas trees sold in the United States and is supported through annual assessments paid by any business growing or importing 500 or more real Christmas trees. This press release was developed and distributed by the RCTB. Search "Real Christmas Tree Board" online and visit RealChristmasTreeBoard.com. 

National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), founded in 1955, is the national trade association and advocacy organization for the farm-grown Christmas tree industry, leading its public policy/governmental affairs and serving as the "voice of the industry." NCTA represents hundreds of active member farms, 38 state and regional associations, and thousands of affiliated businesses that grow and sell Christmas trees or provide related services. Each year since 1966, an NCTA member has presented the official White House Christmas tree to the First Lady, which is displayed in the Blue Room. NCTA is also a trusted media resource on farm-grown Christmas trees.

Please note …

American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) does not represent real Christmas trees or growers. It is a 501(c)(3) corporation established in 2009 and has no known members representing the real Christmas tree industry. Thomas Harman³ is CEO of ACTA and is also the founder and CEO of Balsam Hill, a seller of artificial Christmas trees.⁴ The majority of artificial Christmas trees are manufactured overseas.⁵ 

³ https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/352342528_201912_990EO_2021042017972245.pdf
⁴ https://www.balsamhill.com/about-us
⁵ Data pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau's International Trade in Goods and Services report https://usatrade.census.gov 

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SOURCE Real Christmas Tree Board