SILVERTON, Ore. — Christmas tree growers in the Northwest say the business looks a little greener this year after a slump that drove out a substantial number of producers.
The story is common in agricultural markets: Business gets good, new investors and producers flock in, supply goes up and prices go down, then there’s a shakeout, and finally business gets better.
Oregon leads the nation in Christmas tree production. Washington is sixth.
Prices dropped 35 percent from their peak in 2004 to their low last year, growers said. Producers say prices are now up 2 to 3 percent — not enough to sustain them, but they expect better prices over the next two years.
