By Clark 
It is an integral aspect of the Thanksgiving tradition: after consuming the leftover turkey and mashed potatoes, one begins to anticipate the forthcoming beloved feast. For many, this signifies the decoration of the Christmas tree.
If you often seek fresh-cut pine for your decorative bulbs, tinsel, and lights at Costco, you may need to look elsewhere. Supplies have been constrained since last year, and it appears that you will encounter difficulties at most member-exclusive warehouses once more this year.
Is this the new standard? Given the limited selection in numerous locations, it seems that Costco may be withdrawing from the real Christmas tree market, and consumers have observed this change. Some have reached out to their local businesses to inquire about availability and received bad news.
“I recently contacted my local warehouse…” Reddit user u/sonofhondo stated that they have confirmed they will not be selling real trees this year. “This marks the second consecutive year without live trees in our region (North Texas).”
This is not the first instance in which buyers have sought diligently for a real tree to adorn their homes. In 2021, consumers encountered shortages of Christmas trees at merchants such as Costco and Kroger owing to several supply chain complications. Unprecedented heat waves, droughts, and wildfires adversely affected output on the West Coast, resulting in Oregon growers suffering a 90% loss in yield, as reported by the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA).
Costco did not provide a response to our request for feedback; nonetheless, we consulted several local warehouse locations regarding their tree inventory. An employee informed us that fresh trees are likely to be an uncommon occurrence this year, although he was uncertain about their potential permanent discontinuation.
No trees are to be sold due to last year’s lack. He emphasized that they must allow them to regenerate. “They may return in a few years.” He also indicated that certain Costcos might possess trees, contingent upon their proximity to the company’s tree farm for acquiring any surplus inventory.
Others on Reddit have reported experiencing analogous changes. “Indiana present.” We did not stock them in the previous two years, and we will not stock them this year as well. u/drubhub said that it is attributed to a supply chain issue and a deficiency in availability.
Although acquiring a genuine tree from your local Costco may not be feasible, there are several options available. You might acquire a fake tree at the bulk retailer’s reduced pricing. The warehouse offers many versions of trees with integrated remote-controlled LED lights, ranging from 4 feet at $79.99 to 7.5 feet for $499.99. This item will endure for numerous holiday seasons, necessitating minimal maintenance and accompanied by a guaranteed return policy.
Counterintuitively, imitation Christmas trees may be more harmful to the environment than actual trees. A new CNN analysis indicates that, unless one intends to utilize an artificial tree for several decades, natural trees are the environmentally responsible option.
Which alternative is most advantageous for the environment? Preserve the custom by purchasing a live tree from a local farm, acknowledging that this may incur a higher cost due to limited availability. If you are determined to obtain an authentic one, now is not the time for delay. Jay Bustard, co-owner of a Christmas tree farm in Philadelphia, informed Fox 29 that clients should select their trees promptly if they desire one and anticipate an increase in price of between 5% to 15%, contingent upon the type of tree.
Given that Christmas trees require approximately seven years to reach maturity, it may take several additional years for supply to fully recover. If you choose to invest in an artificial tree, it is advisable to do so promptly.
To view the list of products that Costco has permanently discontinued, please refer to the following link.