Montreal

Quebec Christmas tree farm a growing family tradition

While the holiday season lasts only a few weeks and Chrismas trees are often curbside by January, it can take the McCrea-Coté family, tree producers from Inverness, Que., up to a decade to grow just one tree.

Two generations of McCrea-Cotés make Christmases bright in Inverness, Que.

Two generations of McCrea-Côté Christmas tree farmers. Daren (left), his wife Sarah, and his parents, Elaine McCrea and her husband, Francis Côté. (Peter Tardif/CBC)

For the past 35 years, the McCrea-Coté Christmas tree farm in Inverness, Que. has grown, cut and sold hundreds of thousands of trees for that special day of the year.

While the holiday season lasts only a few weeks and Chrismas trees are often curbside by January, it can take the McCrea-Coté family up to a decade to grow just one tree.

The small family business has seen it ups and downs over the years and, with U.S. producers getting bigger and bigger, growing Christmas trees hasn't always been tinsel and bright lights.

However, in an era where small family farms are shutting down all over the province, Francis Coté and Elaine McCrea can count on their son Daren to continue the family tradition, hopefully for another 35 years. 

The CBC's Peter Tardif headed to Inverness and met up with Elaine McCrea on the family farm.

Check out some photos from the farm:

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