ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 19, 2023
Christmas tree growers and breeders have long prepared for a future of hotter weather that will change soil conditions, too. People buying trees may not have noticed a difference in availability this year and may not even in the next couple; the average Christmas tree takes eight to 10 years to reach marketable size. But that means the trees being grown right now are the beloved holiday traditions of tomorrow for millions of families. That’s why researchers have been working with breeders to see if species from other parts of the world – for instance, Turkish fir – are better adapted to conditions being wrought by climate change.