Improving balsam fir needle retention post-harvest

Summary

The Christmas tree industry is thriving in Canada, with balsam fir being the top choice in Atlantic Canada for its distinctive shape, colour and fragrance. This project focuses on improving post-harvest needle retention in balsam fir Christmas trees to enhance consumer satisfaction, strengthen the fresh-cut tree industry and reduce the shift to artificial trees. Partnering with Perennia and the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia, the EATLab is exploring advanced handling techniques and tree physiology to improve quality and extend the selling season.

Challenge

Post-harvest needle loss threatens the fresh-cut Christmas tree industry, driving consumers toward artificial trees. Factors like early harvest dates, shipping demands, environmental stress and climate change contribute to needle loss. Up to 1 in 3 balsam fir trees harvested early in Nova Scotia may shed needles before December, making them unsellable. To address this, we’re partnering with Perennia and the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia to improve tree quality, shipping methods and the effectiveness of post-harvest treatments.

Outcome

The project is still in its infancy. This Christmas tree season we are focusing on optimizing our protocols and troubleshooting issues for our next round of experiments. We look forward to working with our industry partners over the next three years.

Partners