Christmas Tree, Turkey Shortage Hit Saskatchewan This Holiday Season | The Canadian News

The holiday season may have some bumps this year due to shipping issues and a surprising lack of two very important things: trees and turkeys.

Pine View Farms co-owner Melanie Boldt says the expected shortage comes despite being prepared with additional turkeys this year, just in case.

“We were hoping that with fewer restrictions and COVID-19 a bit waning, more people would want to get together and celebrate with turkey,” Boldt said. “So we increased our turkey production by 30 percent.”

Even with the extra preparation, they are preparing to sell out early.

“I have less than 50 turkeys of the 1,200 left to reserve,” Boldt said.

The problem is not just local, according to Turkey Farmers Of Canada.

Board Chairman Darren Ference says they were also prepared for increased demand this year, but with the recent devastation of farms in British Columbia due to flooding, there are some gaps in production.

“They’re dealing with it,” Ference said. “They are working together like farmers do. Some are placing (to request) another and then we will move them later, and then we are also working across the country trying to balance or increase some of the supply in other parts of the country. “

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If you are looking for a Christmas tree in the market, you will also want to get one sooner rather than later.

Kezia Nogot of Floral Acres Greenhouse says they had to search for inventory outside of the province after asking several Saskatchewan Christmas tree farms.

“The trees didn’t grow as big as they were supposed to because of environmental factors,” Nogot said. “One of those is drought. After all our trees are gone, that’s it. “

She and her colleagues made the trip to Alberta to purchase their tree inventory and said they hope they won’t have to do it again next year.

Producers and farmers are delighted to see people supporting the locals, especially after such a challenging year in agriculture.

They say make sure you catch a turkey before they swallow it.