With Thanksgiving now come and gone, the winter holiday season is officially underway. While gift shopping is at the forefront of many people's minds, getting the perfect Christmas tree is also imperative for those who celebrate.

Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm out of Pleasant Hill has been filling that need for three decades. With typical Christmas trees taking upwards of seven years to grow to full size, it's a long-term investment for owners Lynn and Bob Schutte, a thought they also carry into how they run their farm.

"Our interest is having happy customers," said Bob Schutte. "Customers that want to come back again next year, customers that go home and say, 'I had a great time at Northern Lights, and I want to tell my friends about that,' and that's how our business grows."

Despite a year where inflation has impacted people at the pump, at the grocery store and beyond, the Schutte's have only raised their prices slightly.

"Our tree prices have gone up very moderately," Bob Schutte said. "Our tree prices are five percent over last year."

For example, in 2021, the price for a six-foot tall Douglas Fir was $41, and in 2022, it's $43, and the price of an eight-foot tall Nordman Fir has gone from $100 to $105.