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- Written by: Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University and Patrick Abouchalache, Boston University
Christmas today is a big business, and one part of that is the multibillion-dollar business of selling Christmas trees. The U.S. Christmas tree industry is so large, it even has two dueling trade groups: one that supports natural trees and the other, artificial.
We are two business school professors whose students asked us to explain the economic impact of the winter holidays. In the holiday spirit of sharing, we’re giving you some facts to discuss while trimming your tree.
Where to buy a natural Christmas tree – or chop one down yourself
There are three different ways to get a natural Christmas tree.
First, you can go into a national forest and chop down your own. Relatively few Americans do this, even though a permit costs $10 or less, because government rules require that the tree you chop must be more than 200 feet from any road, campground or recreation area. Since dragging a tree destroys its branches and needles, the 200-foot rule means that large, heavy trees have to be carried a fair distance through often snowy woods.
Your second option is to buy or chop down a tree at a local Christmas tree farm. Christmas tree farms got a big promotional boost when Taylor Swift revealed she grew up on one, but she’s hardly alone: There are nearly 3,000 Christmas tree farms across the U.S., according to the Department of Agriculture’s most recent figures. These farms sell around 12 million trees a year.
While being a Christmas tree farmer sounds idyllic, it isn’t very profitable, since Christmas trees take over a decade to grow large enough to sell. Long lead times combined with changing and unpredictable weather have pushed many of these farms out of business. Almost 500 U.S. Christmas tree farms shuttered between 2014 and 2019, the USDA found.
The third way to buy a tree is from a local retailer that imports trees. In 2022, the U.S. imported almost 3 million natural Christmas trees, primarily from Canada. Imports have been growing steadily: In 2014, the U.S. imported only half as many trees.
Together, this means that in 2022, roughly 15 million locally grown or imported natural trees were sold in the country.
Some people like to buy their trees from a nonprofit, like the Boy Scouts. These fundraisers are also supplied from local Christmas tree farms or imports.
An artificial tree’s journey from China to your living room
Artificial trees are popular with people who don’t like the mess and fuss of natural trees. Replica trees primarily come from China, and most are made in the Chinese city of Yiwu. The U.S. imported over 20 million artificial trees in 2022 alone.
And they’re becoming increasingly common. In 2014, the U.S. imported 11 million artificial trees and sold almost 22 million natural trees. This means that back in 2014, almost two real trees were purchased for every artificial one. A decade later, natural tree sales had fallen to around 15 million, but over 20 million artificial trees were imported.
One result of the shift to replica trees is a reduction in house fires. Natural trees that aren’t watered dry out and sometimes catch on fire. In 1980, the U.S. saw about 850 Christmas tree fires that caused 80 people to be injured. Four decades later, the number of annual fires fell to 180, with only eight injuries.
Why Christmas trees are so expensive
Some people get sticker shock when they see how much Christmas trees cost. Those shocking prices don’t come from the wholesale level. Last year, wholesalers importing entire shipping containers paid $22 for each artificial tree, on average, according to U.S. government statistics. Importers of natural trees paid roughly the same price. Together, artificial and natural importers paid over a half billion dollars for trees to sell in 2022.
Unfortunately, there are no official statistics on how much Americans pay for Christmas trees at the retail level. There’s a general consensus that artificial trees cost more than natural trees, but the extra money may be worth it because they last more than one season.
Consumer surveys by the two competing trade groups suggest that people paid in the range of $80 to $100 for their trees in 2022. This means the markup on Christmas trees is around 400% to 500%. That’s about the same as a pair of designer jeans or a drink from a hotel minibar.
Multiplying the $80 to $100 price by the 15 million natural trees and 20 million artificial trees sold in 2022 means Christmas trees are roughly a $3 billion business annually — without including any extra money spent on the decorations.
So, with so many options, how do you settle on which sort of tree to buy? Price, environmental factors, convenience and even allergies are all important factors to consider. There’s no easy answer. One of us can’t decide and has multiple trees, ranging from a 12-inch artificial tree handed down from his grandmother to a 7-foot-tall natural Fraser fir purchased at his local Christmas tree farm.
Whatever you decide – natural, artificial, both or no tree at all – just remember to add a dash of cheer to your winter celebration. After all, the best things about the season are free.
Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University and Patrick Abouchalache, Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation, Boston University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released bodycam video of a deputy-involved shooting that led to the death of a Lakeport man on Nov. 16.
Along with the release of the video, the sheriff’s office also released to Lake County News the name of the man who died.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Lauren Berlinn identified the man as Richard Michael Pyorre, 53, Lakeport.
Pyorre was a well-known Lakeport businessman, owner of an insurance company, and at one time a wrestling coach for Clear Lake High School.
The sheriff’s office’s initial report said that deputies responded to the 100 block of Dixon Drive in Lakeport, just off Highway 175, due to reports of an assault with a knife by a male subject.
When the deputies arrived on scene, the report said they contacted the subject — now identified as Pyorre — reportedly responsible for that assault who at that point was armed with a loaded firearm.
The sheriff’s office account said the deputies made multiple attempts “to defuse and de-escalate the situation” but Pyorre refused to comply. He was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office did not separately release another statement on the fatal shooting on Tuesday.
However, the video includes some additional new details, including that the deputies responded to the Dixon Drive residence at about 1:45 p.m.
“Upon arrival, deputies found the driveway barricaded with several vehicles and a boat. Deputies entered the property and contacted the alleged suspect of the reported assault,” the video said.
Shortly after the deputies contacted Pyorre, the sheriff’s office report said he drew a concealed loaded firearm from his waistband.
The bodycam footage was edited together with voice over and text giving additional details of the incident, and included a brief clip of cell phone video that appeared to have been taken by Pyorre having an argument with a family member. The firearm, visible from his waistband, is highlighted in the video.
The 12-minute video begins with fire radio traffic calling out medics from the Lakeport Fire Protection District in response to a phone-in report of an assault on Dixon Drive that possibly involved a knife.
Firefighters asked for the sheriff’s office to respond while they staged at 1:37 p.m.
What follows is video from two bodycams, one from Sgt. Ben Moore, and the second from Deputy Michael Nakahara. Capt. Chris Chwialkowski is also heard and seen in the video but no bodycam footage is included from him.
The deputies approached a large white house, walking around a travel trailer in the front yard. A large German shepherd came around the trailer and started to turn around when Moore sprayed it with pepper spray and it ran away.
From around the side of the house comes a figure who appears to be wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. A caption on the video said, “Suspect is drawing the loaded firearm from a holster in his front waistband.”
The figure is then seen turning and fleeing around the house with the dog following him. Moore said, “He’s got a gun. He’s got a gun.”
From that point on in the video, Pyorre cannot be seen from the vantage point of the bodycams.
Moore then called to Pyorre, telling him that he needed to come out and show him his hands, before firing a shot. Moore yelled at Pyorre not to point the gun at them again and asked for cover.
In the background, radio traffic can be heard requesting a full call out of a SWAT team from Mendocino County. That radio call went out at 1:56 p.m., according to radio traffic monitored by Lake County News on the day of the incident.
Moore continued to call to Pyorre, telling him to let him see his hands and to call out to the deputies.
He and the other deputies advanced to the corner of the house, looking toward the backyard.
“I see him. He’s up. He’s moving. He still has the gun in his hand. Drop the gun! Drop the gun, Rick! Don’t make us shoot you!” Moore shouted.
Moore continued to order Pyorre to drop the gun and to show his hands.
As they continued to call to Pyorre, Moore said he could see Pyorre with the gun in his right hand on the other side of the pool in the backyard and was pointing the gun.
At that point, the bodycam shifted as another shot was fired, and Moore shouted that the suspect was hit and had fallen into the pool, where he was splashing around.
Aerial measurements of the property conducted with Google maps indicate that Pyorre was about 100 feet away from Moore when he was shot.
Moore’s bodycam video indicates that approximately three minutes and 43 seconds elapsed from the time he confronted the dog to shooting Pyorre.
Radio traffic indicated that Pyorre was shot at 1:59 p.m., and that there had been reports of other people up the hill from the house seeing him go into the pool after being shot.
Nakahara’s bodycam showed him following Moore and remaining behind some objects alongside the travel trailer before joining Moore and a third individual — believed to be Chwialkowski — at the corner of the house.
After the bodycam videos end, a picture is shown of Pyorre’s body — with his face covered with a black box — in the pool, with his right hand still clutching what the sheriff’s office said was a loaded handgun.
Moore also fatally shot and killed Jason Richard Sienze, 35, of Madera in February 2018 after he said Sienze brandished a handgun at him while backing down Lakeview Drive in Nice in a stolen pickup. Sienze died after Moore fired close to 20 rounds at him from a rifle.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office website’s page on Use of Force Policies includes links to the video on the incident involving Pyorre and reports and video on previous use of force situations.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person. The webinar ID is 821 0671 9961.
The meeting also can be accessed via One tap mobile at 16694449171,,82106719961# or by dialing 1 669 444 9171.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7.
On Thursday, the council will consider a memorandum of understanding with the Elem Indian Colony regarding development of a travel center at 14825 and 14855 Lakeshore Drive. The site, near Redbud Park, was the former location of Mario’s Restaurant and Silk’s. The tribe purchased it in 2019 and was successful in having it placed into trust.
Also on Thursday, the council will have a discussion with staff and possibly give direction related to cost increases with the Burns Valley Sports Complex Project that staff said are arising due to delays because of the Koi Nation’s lawsuit against the city.
In other business, the council will appoint the 2024 mayor and vice mayor; consider a summary vacation of the irrevocable dedication of a roadway and public utility easement as being a part of an existing subdivision as requested by Mitchell and Patricia Markowitz; authorize a five-year contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate reader cameras; and hold a public hearing to adopt the first amendment to the 2023-24 fee schedule, update facility rental fees.
The council on Thursday also will meet December's Adoptable Dogs and present the employee years of service awards and certificates of appreciation to volunteers.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes; award of a contract to Pro-Ex Construction in the amount of $30,300 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments; minutes of the Oct. 11 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; review and approval of the annual calendar of meetings for 2024; approval of Resolution 2023-46 for the application of the Outdoor Equity Program Grant; and receipt and filing of a memo regarding holiday closure of the City Hall administration office.
The council also will hold a closed session discussion regarding the Koi Nation’s lawsuits and a liability claim of Andrew Kirkendall against the city.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Susan Alice Johnson-Cline, 57, died at the scene of the crash, which occurred shortly after 6:15 p.m. Friday on southbound Highway 29, south of Central Park Road, as Lake County News has reported.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office originally gave Johnson-Cline’s city of residence as Clearlake.
However, Lauren Berlinn, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said Johnson-Cline’s residence was in Lower Lake.
The CHP’s initial report said Johnson-Cline was walking along the highway in wet, rainy conditions.
It’s so far not known what led to her being struck by a 2020 Tesla Model S in the northbound lane of Highway 29.
However, the report said that alcohol may have been a factor on Johnson-Cline’s part.
Johnson-Cline died of her injuries at Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at