It’s Christmas Trees in the City

Emerald Forest Trees in San Francisco offers premium quality Christmas trees that can be flocked in the color of your choice, as well as other holiday accessories.

Its the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas is once again upon us, and what’s Christmas without a Christmas tree? For Claire Hackett, co-owner of Emerald Forest Trees on the corner of Sloat and 19th Ave. in San Francisco, business is surprisingly booming. The family run business that’s been serving customers for 19 years is no stranger to the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, and they find that they have a lot of returning customers. Most people are happy and excited to be getting a Christmas tree and they try to make it inviting for customers. Hackett explains that her and her husband got the idea of selling trees, it worked out and they kept doing it. They get their trees from Corvallis and Estacada, Oregon.

“People still want to buy a Christmas tree, I guess they want to cheer themselves up,” Hackett says when asked how business was running during this recession. There aren’t many discounts offered on the trees unless it’s Christmas Eve, where Hackett exclaims that people will get a discount “for sure.” The trees sold at Emerald Forest are mainly Douglas Firs, Noble Firs and Silver Tips. Hackett mentions that very few Christmas tree companies carry Silver Tips, and they’re proud to sell them. The trees that don’t make the cut – that is they aren’t sold – are sent to the chipper and turned into mulch.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 35 percent of U.S. household plan to purchase real trees in 2009, while nine percent plan to purchase fake trees.

“No fake trees here,” Hackett says, “no way.”

Although their prices are competitive with other companies, Hackett assures that they only sell top quality, premium grade trees that they’re “very proud of.” Some of the services that they offer include custom color flocking – where trees are sprayed to give it that snowy appearance – yet instead of traditional white, customers can choose from any color of their choice. Certified flame retarding is also offered as well as home deliveries. Besides being a Christmas tree nursery, in October Emerald Forest is also a pumpkin patch, yet during the off-season nothing goes on for their business.

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