News Photo by Crystal Nelson Ernie Roznowski, of Ernie Roz Tree Sales, is pictured with a Christmas tree on a lot on U.S.-23 North, where the former JJ’s Awesome Acres was located.

ALPENA — While Christmas tree sales are up in Northeast Michigan, local tannenbaum retailers say they have enough inventory to last the season.

News outlets across the country report that Christmas tree sales are up and many retailers have either sold out or expect to sell out of trees this holiday season as more people buy trees earlier, seeking Christmas cheer during the coronavirus pandemic.

The rush to buy Christmas trees has been compared to a rush on toilet paper when the pandemic began this spring.

Carol Cantor, production supervisor at Huron View Tree Farm in Black River, said Christmas tree sales are up about 30% over last year. The farm sells already-cut Christmas trees, U-pick Christmas trees, and other holiday greenery.

Cantor said the weather “has been terrific” and has allowed people to get out and purchase their Christmas tree.

“We have a field, so there’s no shortage of trees,” Cantor said. “We have over 400-acres of trees — they’re not all Christmas trees — but we have a good supply here.”

Mike Cohoon, with Dean’s Tree Farm on Piper Road, said it’s been business as usual at the tree farm this year.

“We’ve got the same people we’ve seen for the last 20 to 30 years coming,” he said.

Ernie Roznowski, of Ernie Roz Tree Sales, said he’s been selling Christmas trees since before Thanksgiving.

“I know a lot of people are going with real Christmas trees this year,” he said.

Roznowski is selling on U.S.-23, north of Alpena in the lot of the former JJ’s Awesome Acres. Roznowski said sales are “pretty dang good” this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Roznowski said he has a couple of weeks to sell trees in Alpena. After that, Roznowski said he may take the remainder of the trees to Eastern Market in Detroit so he can sell out. He said his brother was selling trees in Eastern Market and has already sold 750 trees.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.