Rooted in Tradition

The Strathmeyer Christmas Trees Legacy

By Megan Kreiser | Assistant Vice President, Events

In York County, the story of Strathmeyer Christmas Trees is more than a tale of evergreens and festive traditions—it’s a living testament to the enduring strength of family, agriculture, and adaptability across five generations. From humble beginnings selling wild-cut Christmas trees off a horse-drawn wagon to a diversified enterprise spanning wholesale tree farming, landscaping, and agritourism, Strathmeyer’s roots run deep, both literally and figuratively.

The Strathmeyer family’s story begins on the corner of Philadelphia and Hartley Streets in York, where the Chas. H. Strathmeyer Grocery Store served as one of the only of its kind on the west end of town. Wild-cut trees sold during the holidays supplemented the grocery’s modest earnings. But like many small businesses during the Depression, the grocery store took a hit. Rather than giving up, the family turned toward the Christmas tree business, heading to the woods to cut trees and sell them from their backyard.

What began as a small, seasonal side hustle has grown into a multi-faceted operation. Fred R. Strathmeyer, Sr., the third generation, took to planting trees and seedlings on land in the Dover area, setting the stage for a new legacy rooted in patience, hard work, and long–term vision. Strathmeyer Christmas Trees serves as a wholesale grower supplying trees to customers as far as New England, the Midwest, and beyond. Fred’s five children, four boys and one girl, continued to innovate the business.

Recognizing the risks of a single-focus business, the Strathmeyers expanded in 1996 with Strathmeyer Landscape, a fullservice landscaping division that has evolved to specialize in large-scale commercial projects. By partnering with other local family businesses, names like Kinsley and Stewart & Tate, they’ve strengthened ties not just within their industry, but across generations of York’s business community.

Strathmeyer’s legacy isn’t confined to Pennsylvania soil. Since the early 1990s, they’ve been pioneers in Pennsylvania’s use of the H2A agricultural worker program, bringing in skilled labor from a small town in Mexico. These aren’t transient workers; they are families whose sons and nephews now follow in their fathers’ footsteps. The Strathmeyers have built deep bonds with these workers and their families, whose earnings are sent home to help build homes and businesses, creating economic stability in a place where opportunities are scarce.

The Christmas tree business is geared toward generations of families as Christmas trees aren’t a fast-moving commodity. Gerrit Strathmeyer II, the fifth generation to help manage the company and current Operations Manager, shares that a 6-foot tree may take up to a decade to reach maturity, requiring a business model rooted in patience and longterm forecasting. "You're planning Christmases a decade ahead," Gerrit jokes, aware that each planting cycle could stretch beyond his tenure and into the hands of the next generation.

As Gerrit looks ahead, he’s realistic about the challenges but optimistic about the possibilities. Simplifying ownership to a single successor streamlines decisionmaking but also concentrates responsibility.

The family's mantra remains: "Don’t ask someone to do a job you’re not willing to do yourself." That ethos, passed down from generation to generation, is as vital as ever.

Whether through trees, landscapes, or seasonal festivities, the Strathmeyer family continues to cultivate more than just evergreens. They nurture legacies: of family, of community, and of shared purpose. As the business grows into its next century, its roots hold fast to what matters most: hard work, deep connections, and the enduring belief that something planted with care today will thrive for generations to come.

Learn more: strathmeyerchristmastrees.com

strathmeyerlandscape.com

groundrootspa.com

The Christmas tree business isn’t what it once was. Since its peak in the early 1990s, the demand for cut trees has steadily declined, challenged by the rise of artificial alternatives and shifting consumer habits. Yet, Strathmeyer has found ways to stay evergreen—literally and figuratively.

The farm now leans into the experience of Christmas, recognizing that today’s customers seek more than just a tree—they want memories. Their setup at the York Fair Grounds includes wreath-decorating events, children's activities, and photo ops in scenic, barn-style venues.

Meanwhile, the business has embraced the rising interest in B&B (balled and burlapped) live trees—this is their primary business, sending trees across the nation. It’s a nod to environmental consciousness and a tangible reminder that a Christmas tree, like the Strathmeyer family itself, can keep growing for generations.