Swenson's Trees owner, Mitch Swenson, right, and his nephew, Ashton Tanzer, left, said this year has been busier than most years for selling Christmas trees.
CHENEY - The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed or completely shut down many businesses.
Not so at Swenson's Trees, located off Sherman Road about 15 minutes east of town toward Spokane and Marshall, where owner Mitch Swenson says their Christmas tree business has actually increased this holiday season.
"We typically sell between 150 and 200 trees (each Christmas)," Swenson said. "It looks like we'll be above that this year."
Long wait times at other tree farms may be increasing business at Swenson's Tree Farm.
"Nowhere else is open," tree salesman and nephew of Swenson Ashton Tanzer said. "Someone told me they had to wait nine days at Green Bluff."
Green Bluff Christmas Tree Farm's website required reservations this year, and all reservation spots are now full, according to its website. No reservation is required at the four-acre tree farm on Swenson's 13-acre farm property.
Swenson's Trees sells a large number of Colorado spruce trees, as well as some Douglas firs and Grand nobles. Trees are sold at $9 per foot. Pre-cut trees are also imported from Sandpoint, Idaho each year.
This year, to comply with pandemic restrictions, bags of cocoa mix, apple cider mix and candy canes are bagged and available for customers to take themselves, instead of being handed out.
"It's fun when kids are running around, having fun," said Swenson, who is on the Cheney Public Schools board.
Not all of Swenson's usual attractions are still around. Heidi the reindeer "went to be with Santa" last year, so the farm is now devoid of wannabe Rudolph's.
Swenson said the farm has been planting 100-200 trees each year of its 30 year existence. Like any crop, not all the trees survive to be family-room-ready, "but we get a good amount," he said.
The farm is open solely on the weekends, Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
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