Whether Texans opt for a real or fake tree as the centerpiece of their home’s holiday decor this year has a tremendous impact on the state’s economy.
The Christmas tree is an iconic image of the holiday season, and behind it lies a billion-dollar industry.
Between 25 and 30 million real evergreen trees are sold for Christmas in the United States each year, with the 2023 season expected to bring in roughly $1.33 billion, according to an analysis from Mordor Intelligence. Although Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are national leaders in growing Christmas trees, the Texas Christmas tree industry has been rising in significance.
Fred Raley, Texas A&M Forest Service’s tree improvement coordinator, explained in a news release that this has been made possible through a decades-long collaboration with the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association to adapt Virginia pines to the Texas climate.
As a result of these efforts, the Texas Christmas tree industry injects $397 million into the state economy. It employs 3,896 people with a payroll of more than $97 million, according to an economic study from Texas A&M Forest Service using data from 2021 converted into 2023 dollar amounts. When indirect contributions are taken into account, the economic impact is more than $713 million, and roughly 6,000 jobs are financed with a payroll of $200 million.
“The process of going as a family to pick out a tree is a fun activity that supports rural economies across the state,” explained Dr. Aaron Stottlemyer, head of Texas A&M Forest Service’s Forest Analytics Department, in a news release.
Despite artificial trees carrying a higher price tag on average than real ones, they have logged higher sales since 2020. These plastic trees are not only problematic for the Texas economy but also for the environment. Approximately 90% of these plastic, non-recyclable trees are manufactured in China and then shipped across the world to U.S. consumers.
Although cutting down real trees each year might appear environmentally unsound, Stottlemyer suggested this was false.
“Christmas tree farms are essentially young forests,” he said. “They are able to provide us the same benefits as traditional forests by sequestering carbon, providing a natural habitat for wildlife, cleaning our water, and providing recreational opportunities.”
Christmas trees can also be recycled into mulch or even consumed for a significant boost in vitamin A and vitamin C, as previously covered in The Dallas Express.