Tavistock’s fresh-cut Christmas trees arrive for the season

Members of Grace United Church’s Middle Aged Pews unloaded all 110 trees in minutes at the Kaufman property. From left: Mike Kaufman, Beth Kaufman, Marcia Bender, Bill Green, Wanda Brown, Eugene Bender, Wayne Shewfelt, Carol Shewfelt, Gary Zehr, Elaine Green, Tory Zehr and Bill Brown. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Real Christmas tree lovers can rejoice – Tavistock’s annual shipment of fresh, fragrant Balsam Fir trees has arrived once again.

The trees, sold as a fundraiser for Grace United Church’s Middle Aged Pews (MAP) group, are available for $65 each, cash only, with payment deposited into the cash box beside the driveway.

A total of 110 trees were delivered Tuesday morning to their usual sales location at the home of Beth and Mike Kaufman on William Street North. The MAP group, known for their enthusiasm and efficiency, had the entire load off the truck in under 20 minutes. Members say this year’s batch may be “the best trees yet.”

The trees – now commonly referred to as Canaan Fir – were freshly cut from Fox Hollow Farm south of Delhi. The grower, Paul Kapai, maintains more than 500 acres of Christmas trees on a rotational schedule and sells roughly 3,000 trees annually. Delivery driver Dave Marcoux said demand is strong each year across southern and central Ontario, with none of their trees crossing the border into the U.S.

Marcoux noted the operation is well into its busiest season, having started deliveries to nurseries and greenhouses three weeks ago. With multiple trucks running daily until Christmas, he called the MAP group’s quick work “a huge help,” adding that the company is in full swing during the short holiday window when, as he put it, “you have to make hay when the sun shines.”

The MAP group extends thanks to all who support the annual sale and wishes the community a “faithful and Merry Christmas.”