"It's a relief": the French will be able to buy a Christmas tree

INTERVIEW

It is a symbol of Christmas that is saved.

It is not yet known whether the French will experience the end of the year holidays confined in one way or another for the first time or not.

On the other hand, they will be able to buy their tree at the florists, thanks to the withdrawal in store or in the usual dedicated spaces.

A decree, expected during the week, will allow them to do so.

For producers, this is a necessary decision for the future of the industry.

"It's a relief", testifies Frédéric Naudet, president of the French Association of the natural Christmas tree, Monday on Europe 1.

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"All costs were incurred"

"Before we had this uncertainty, before confinement was decreed, all the costs were incurred, the employees recruited, the seasonal workers were there. Overnight, we found ourselves in a terrible uncertainty", underlines t -he.

This uncertainty is all the greater as the natural fir industry achieves 100% of its turnover over the coming period of a month and a half.

“Imagine being told overnight, 'It's over, we can't make Christmas trees.'

On the one hand, we had all the campaign costs that were incurred and on the other hand a turnover of 0 because we could no longer sell our trees. It was not imaginable that a sector would be found on his knees. "

Six million natural trees come to France each year

But for Frédéric Naudet, the arguments of the producers were heard by the ministry, in particular about the sanitary conditions of sale.

"Then he also heard the wish of the French to be able to find a natural tree," he said.

Each year, six million natural fir trees are sold in France, including four and a half million French firs.