About 50,000 Christmas trees and a vast array of wreaths, crafts, and seasonal decorations were auctioned at the annual two-day event held at the Buffalo Valley Produce Auction in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. Buyers from across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic gathered to stock garden centres, corner lots, and other retail outlets ahead of the holiday rush.
Auctioneers sold boxes of ornaments, winterberry, cotton branches, icicle lights, grave blankets, red bows, and tree stands as bundled-up bidders braved chilly temperatures. The auction offered nearly everything needed for Christmas except food and presents.
Marsha Gray of the Real Christmas Tree Board noted that American Christmas tree buying habits have shifted over the years, with fewer homes having a tree and more opting for artificial ones. However, she said the main reason people choose real trees is the fresh scent, and having children in the house tends to correlate with picking a farm-grown tree.
Buyers praised the quality and selection. Cory Stephens of A.A. Co. Farm, Lawn & Garden in Maryland spent nearly $5,000, saying the auction had “changed our whole world.” Ryan Marshall from Ward's Berry Farm in Massachusetts spent about $8,000 on decorations, expecting to double his money on wreaths purchased at $29 each.
A survey by the Real Christmas Tree Board found that 84% of growers do not expect wholesale price increases this season. Auction manager Neil Courtney said farm-grown tree prices have stabilised, expressing hope that the trend toward artificial trees can be reversed. “The live tree puts the real Christmas in your house,” he said.
