NORFOLK — Inflation is making it more expensive to grow Christmas trees, with costs for things like labor and fertilizer rising. But Ryan Clouse, president of the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association, said a larger supply than usual will likely hedge against steep price hikes.

“The input costs have gone up, but I think a lot of what the big growers are doing is just trying to make sure they can market their trees,” he said.

Fewer Christmas trees were harvested and planted during the 2008 recession, which led to a shortage for the better part of a decade. Growers planted more to close the gap, but it takes seven to ten years for those trees to be ready to sell. Now, growers have trees they need to move.

Competition can keep costs low, or it can raise prices, Clouse said.

If an ar

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