More people buy real Christmas trees amid pandemic

Hladky's Tree Farm said this weekend alone, he's sold hundreds of dollars worth of trees.

More than usual this time of the year.

Linn county reported 30.

With the holiday season officially underway--*one industry got a boost in sales this weekend.*christmas tree farms. as kezi nine news reporter connor mccarthy explains --- the high demand is helping growers get through this pandemic.

Bob: "we had traffic jams friday and even yesterday."

The holiday season is here... and oregonians are rushing to get their christmas trees.

Bob: "we're fortunate we're having good sales.

Some earlier than usual.

"last year we almost got skunked, we couldn't find a tree right before christmas so we thought we dould come out early and get one."

Bob hladky says his farm--hladky tree farms-- has been in business for 5 decades and the pandemic is a big factor to the boom in business.

"i think because of covid virus people have been shut up in their home."

Connor: "hladky says his farm was flooded this weekend -- with people eager to get a jump start on preparing for christmas and looking for a fun safe distraction.

This weekend alone he says he sold hundreds -- which is more than usual."

The national christmas tree association also says the pandmeic is a big factor for the uptick in sales.

They say more people are going to turn to*real christmas trees than artificial ones.

"we've always had a real christmas tree, we like the smell, we like the tradition."

Hladky says artifical trees are actually worse for the enviroment.

"it's a petrolium prodcut and people that are trying to help the envrioment, the artificial tree is not doing that."

With more people turning to real trees this year, hladky says his farm is expecting to hit their normal number of the sales--ranging in the low hundreds.

At 94 hladky says the is not slowing down.

"even though i'm a retired professor, i'm not one to sit around, i enjoy working outside."

And the community will contiune to come out and support his farm " are you going to pick out the tree hugo?

Yes, he will be," reporting in pleasent hill connor mccarthy kezi nine news.

With thanksgiving*behind us-- we wanted to know if people in the community were following health guidelines more than they were during