Supplier of fir trees for 40 years

Every year, quite a number of families take a little outing to the country to purchase their Christmas tree in Hinchinbrooke from Réal Desgroseilliers who has been selling trees for more than 40 years.

We wanted to find out why and headed out to meet him. As soon as we arrived at his property on route 202, approximately 12 kilometres south of Huntingdon, our noses were filled with the scent of some 250 evergreens on display for sale.

And for good reason, as Desgroseilliers informed us that they were Cook Firs, a variety of balsam fir. "They produce a good fragrance and don't shed many needles," he said. The Department of Agriculture (MAPAQ) describes it as a tree "of a bluish green colour, with strong branches, robust growth and large buds."

The seller offers trees in a variety of grades and sizes which easily find buyers in the first weeks of December; the Town of Huntingdon has purchased a dozen. "By the time we get to Christmas, there aren't many left, at most a dozen, but last year I was sold out by December 17," declared the seventy year old.

From producer to seller

For as long as he can remember, Réal Desgroseilliers has loved fir trees. Already by the 70s, he had planted some 10 000 on his land in  Hinchinbrooke, while also working at Cleyn & Tinker.

The amount of work involved and the cost effectiveness of operations caused him to abandon production. Since 1989, he has sourced from only one producer, Simon Lemieux of Sapins Céleste in Nantes near Lac Mégantic. That is where he went on November 24 to take possession of his 2016 crop. The firs which grow for between 8 and10 years are shipped in refrigerated containers by the producer in the Eastern Townships to as far away as South America and Asia.

Desgroseilliers claims that in the time of artificial trees (some even pre-decorated), the charm of real fir trees remains ever present. And what could be more authentic than going and buying one directly from a local supplier as part of an outing to the countryside.

5 tips on how to care for your natural tree

-1: Check it for freshness

Squeeze a branch between your thumb and index finger and pull towards you. If the tree is fresh, no more than 5 to 10 needles should stay in your hand.

-2: Storage

Once you have bought your tree, store it in a cool location and out of the wind, for example in a garage, until you are ready to decorate it.

-3: Maintenance

Cut the end of the trunk 2 centimetres (1 inch) above the original cut and place it immediately in a Christmas tree stand that can hold a minimum of 4 litres of water.

-4: Check

Check the water level in the Christmas tree stand every day to see if the tree needs water. A new tree will absorb 4 litres of water the first day and then 1 litre per day. If your tree is out of water (for a period of over two hours), make a new cut in the tree trunk.

-5: Recommendation

It is recommended using a Christmas tree stand that can hold more than 6 litres of water.

(Source: Association des producteurs d'arbres de Noël du Québec)

Translated by Cathleen Johnston