ON THE MOVE | Shortage of Christmas foliage due to dry summer?
Strategic buyer Jack de Koning was in Nordrhein-Westfalen and in Denmark at the end of October to visit our suppliers for Christmas foliage. The long, hot and beautiful summer also had a bad effect unfortunately: the drought left visible marks in the green, wooded areas.
Strong forests
Jack points at a Nobilis branch: ‘Do you see the stunning, blue-green colour? That’s good. The forests where we get our Christmas foliage from are healthy and strong.’ The Preferred Suppliers contacted Jack early in the year already. ‘The heatwave lasted a little bit too long. There was some concerns about permanent damage due to the long drought and the government’s ban on watering.’
Traces of drought
Walking through the green, heavenly scented woods, Jack saw that the fear in Denmark and Germany was legitimate. The blue conifers, pinus (kiefer) and Nobilis trees show sporadic branches with visible marks, which was caused by the drought, bearing cones and fruits here and there. Jack: ‘It’s not that bad, it’s not a consistent issue. There is still enough good quality products available. However, our buyers and salespersons need to be aware of the situation and act on it as there can be shortage at some point.’ Ask your salesperson for the availability.
Cutting after frost
All varieties Christmas foliage can only be cut once they have had a good frost. One of our seasoned Preferred Supplier Kipp. ‘Everyone knows that you must wait. If you cut before the frost, the foliage will lose its sturdiness and become useless.’ The Nobilis branches are cut in two different ways: from the ground using a long rod or with a lift. Next, the branches are weighed and packed into bundles.
Grow with patience
Jack: ‘There will be plenty of greenery this Christmas. How the forests will recover from this year’s drought is unknown to anyone. Trees do not grow by themselves, years of work, patience and love have been put in them. Together with the growers, we will be keeping a close eye on them and on the weather forecast for next summer.’
