More Minnesotans are pining for natural Christmas trees this year More Minnesotans are opting for natural Christmas trees this holiday season. By KEVYN BURGER Special to the Star Tribune December 18, 2020 — 9:12am Text size Copy shortlink: It's a wonderful life for Minnesota's Christmas tree producers and operators of cut-your-own tree farms. This holiday season has brought renewed consumer interest in trimming a natural evergreen, reversing a long decline in sales. "We're all seeing a big increase in sales, and customers started showing up earlier than usual," said Mark Hansen, outgoing president of the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association. "We attribute it to the COVID situation. Families are looking for an activity, whether it's going to the lot together or cutting a tree. They're not traveling, so they won't have the one at Grandma's this Christmas."