Nov 30, 2008 10:00 am US/Central
Economy Not Slowing Christmas Tree Sales
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
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On Friday, Christmas tree farms all over the country opened for the afternoon. (File)
CBS
With all the focus on Black Friday, it was easy to miss another annual tradition right after Thanksgiving. On Friday, Christmas tree farms all over the country opened for the afternoon, reports CBS station WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.
Granted, it's only day two, but many growers said that despite the economy, they're seeing just as many customers this weekend as they did last year. They point to one reason: there's no putting a price on tradition.
At Deer Trail Tree Farm in Minneosota, visitors could hear a little sawing, a little laughing and a little yelling.
"Timber!" called out Tom Mohr.
Mohr, from St. Paul, was there with his fiance, Nancy Moravetz, and his three grandchildren. They all took a closer look.
"Let's see, six, seven, eight feet... perfect, right about here," said Mohr, holding out his arms. His girls agreed, nodding their heads.
Mohr and Moravetz have worked hard to spend time with Mohr's grandkids. Tree shopping certainly beats the mall, with a priceless price tag.
"Pick it up, let's go," said Mohr.
"It's really prickly," said Moravetz.
"I know," laughed Mohr.
Mohr and his granddaughter, Amber, worked hard to tie the tree to the roof. Then they went home to start decorating. It was the first time anyone in the group had done this. Mohr and Moravetz hoped it wouldn't be the last.
"It's more special," said Moravetz.
It's the second year for another St. Paul family. But like many families, the Scotts' budget is much tighter. Trees run about $8 per foot, and they expect to pay $50 or so. But they weren't worried about the money.
"Memories. Creating good memories," explained Phil Scott.
"One day they'll do that with their kids," added Phil's wife, Melissa.
Jacob, their 6-year-old son, said he and his sister, Brianna, worked hard to find the perfect tree.
"We were saying 'we found the tree,' but then they said, 'no,' but then they found the tree," he said.
But Jacob conceded that his parents' tree was better than the family's tree the year before.
"No, it was a little bit more smaller, not from top, but a little smidgen from the top," he said.
Nine-year-old Brianna and Jacob got to work.
"The top or the bottom?" she asked.
"I'll take the bottom," said Jacob as he grabbed the trunk with a big grunt, took one step, and fell over laughing.
It's why the family loves spending time together. And it's why their Mom said she's OK with giving fewer gifts and making more homemade gifts. She doesn't mind paying full price for the tree. In fact, she can't put a price on it.
Management at Deer Trail Tree Farm said most of its customers come back every year, but they say they've seen a handful of new folks on Saturday. The Woodbury farm said the weather may have had something to do with it.
"There are a few people that still, they want the snow," said Steve Evenson, of Deer Trail Tree Farm. "They like coming out here with the snow. But a lot of people love the weather because they can come out here in their shirts and their tennis shoes and walk around and cut the trees."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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