Christmas tree farmers offering discounts

Having slashed their prices by up to 50 per cent, Christmas tree farmers along Constant Spring Road in St Andrew are encouraging persons to make use of the deal.

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, Christopher 'Scottie' Williams emphasised that there is still time for persons to purchase and decorate their pine trees for the holidays.

"We just a come out and encourage persons to come and make use of the sale. Tomorrow (Friday) is the last day of the sale as we won't be coming out on Saturday. We really don't want the trees that we cut already to waste so we are basically giving them away for a small cost. A five-foot tree usually goes for $6,000 or $7,000 but now they can get it for $3,000 or $4,000," Scottie said.

Patrick Ogilvie and his colleagues reside in Penlyne Castle in rural St Andrew. Throughout most of December, the farmers harvest their pine trees which they have been growing over the past three years. The team then brave the rocky roads that lead into the Corporate Area to bring cheers to households across the island. Ogilvie said that he too has slashed his prices significantly in an effort not to waste the trees he has already cut.

"Is the last of it right now. Mi have about 12 trees leave, but mi expect it sell it off today (Friday). Prices drop ya now, but mi a nuh one to complain because a suh business run. It was a good run and mi down here from early December, so after Christmas over, mi gone back to mi coffee farm," Ogilvie said.

During the news team's visit, there was hardly anyone purchasing the pine trees, but Tavares Grant said he is not worried.

"Mi have couple tree well and mi expect dem to sell off although mi nuh sell any from morning yet. We are here from overnight and today (Thursday) a most people pay day, suh mi nah worry. Sales up and down for the period but mi still a give thanks," Grant said.