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Stepuk Tree Farm open for Christmas tree season
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The Taranto family of Canfield — Stephanie, Tom, Alex, 6, and Audrey, 3 — all went to get the perfect tree at the Stepuk Tree Farm in Canfield on Black Friday. They decided to go with a Canaan fir this year.
By Kalea Hall
CANFIELD
Nearly 60 years ago, Paul Stepuk decided to plant some Christmas trees.
Seven years later, those trees had grown and along came the first selling season at the Stepuk Tree Farm.
The family business continues to this day on Washingtonville Road near Calla Road in Canfield.
“I just had a feeling I would like to raise trees,” Paul said. “We just kept adding and adding.”
Today, the Stepuk farm has about 45,000 trees on 40 acres.
While some people were out shopping for gifts to put under a tree, others were picking out the perfect live tree at the Stepuk farm.
Tom and Stephanie Taranto of Canfield were out with their children Alex, 6, and Audrey, 3. Although she was one day past her due date for Alex and Audrey’s little sister, Stephanie and her family still decided to fulfill the fourth annual Christmas tree tradition.
The kids pick out the tree, Stephanie said. “We provide a little guidance.”
Before, the Tarantos always went with a Scotch pine — known for its dark green foliage and stiff branches — but this year they chose the Canaan fir, a tree similar to the Fraser fir in appearance. The Fraser is commonly referred to as the “Cadillac of Christmas trees.” It has good form, needle retention, is dark blue-green and has a pleasant scent, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Stepuks do not grow the Fraser but have it shipped in from other growers.
Sue and John McCabe of Austintown have been going to the Stepuk farm for about 10 years. They went with a Fraser fir this year instead of a blue spruce because of the softer needle on the Fraser.
“I love the smell in the house,” Sue said. “These are fresh cut. I will keep my tree for a month now and we will not have any issues at all.”
Mark Stepuk, Paul’s son who runs the tree operation with his brothers, Paul Jr. and Greg, said the Canaan fir is the biggest seller at the farm. The Scotch pine used to be very popular, but the Stepuks are slowly backing away from it because of some diseases associated with it. The Stepuks also sell a lot of blue spruce trees, a sharp and pointy bluish-grey tree.
The Stepuks also grow white pine, which has soft, flexible needles and is bluish-green. These give off little scent and are not recommended for heavy ornaments, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Another tree grown on the farm is the Norway spruce, a tree that comes with a good color.
The Stepuks also ship in Douglas fir trees from other growers to sell. The Douglas has soft, dark green to blue-green needles that have a sweet fragrance.
“People come in and we give them a saw and a sled and they can pick and cut any tree they want,” Mark said.
During the opening weekend, Mark projected that between both the farm and the Stepuk tree lot in Mathews Square Plaza they would sell a couple hundred trees Friday.
The Stepuk farm actually sold about 350 this weekend, Mark said Monday.
“That is on par actually with last year,” Mark said. “Sunday was actually busier than we thought it would be.”
Overall, he anticipates 1,500 or more trees to be sold this season.
“It is always our goal to sell that many,” Mark said.
The trees bought from the Stepuks are shaken out and bailed, which the family thinks sets them apart from the rest. There were some years that were slower for the farm, but steadily the business has picked back up.
“We have perfected it over the years,” Mark said. “It’s a family-owned business and it’s family-oriented trip.”
The Stepuk Tree Farm, located at 10700 Washingtonville Road in Canfield, will be open through Dec. 24, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week; and the Stepuk lot will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends.