Rochester’s Costco Won’t Sell Real Christmas Trees This Year

A lot of Minnesotans start pulling out their Christmas decorations as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are put away. The weekend after Turkey-Day is a very popular time to unpack all of those ornaments and unbox the tree or head out to find a real tree.

80% of American households will have a Christmas tree set up inside this holiday season according to Value Penguin. Most choose an artificial tree but nearly a quarter of American families hunt for the perfect real tree each year.

Back in September, The American Christmas Tree Association advised people to buy their trees as early as possible because of the drought and supply chain issues. ACTA Executive Director Jami Warner said, "In 2021, we’re seeing a variety of trends influencing artificial and live Christmas tree supply across the country, and are encouraging consumers to find their tree early this year to avoid shortage impacts."

Why Rochester’s Costco Isn’t Selling Real Christmas Trees This Year

The Costco in Rochester typically has a huge selection of real Christmas trees for sale immediately after Thanksgiving. I noticed there weren't any on display this year so I reached out to the store to see when the trees would arrive.

I was told that the Costco in Rochester would not have any real Christmas trees this year. An employee explained the trees did not grow to the required specifications because of the drought earlier this spring and summer.