Growers hope for big Christmas tree sales

Christmas tree sellers in New Brunswick say about two weeks before Christmas is usually when people buy their trees, and they are hoping this year it won't be any different.

Grower Don O'Brien is counting on this weekend to sell a lot of his balsam fir trees. So far, he said it's been a bit of a lacklustre season.

"It's been steady but slow," O'Brien said. "In other years, of course, before a storm you will sell a lot of trees. People would be out looking for them because they knew bad weather is coming, it's going be hard to get around."

O' Brien has been in the tree growing and selling business for 25 years.

He has seen trends come and go, but for the most part, New Brunswickers have stuck with the tried and true — the fat balsam fir.

"In general, full, dense and seven to eight feet tall height or two metres height," he said.

But every once in a while, he said there are special requests.

"Different heights, all the same height, 15 feet, 18 feet and again, we can do that," he said. "Not the day before Christmas, but we can do that if they give us enough notice."

O'Brien advises people who want a real tree to consider getting it very soon.