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Target Ready To Sell Christmas Trees Online

By Esme Murphy, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For the first time, Target has announced it will sell fresh trees through its website.

As Target.com prepares to start selling fresh trees on Nov. 15,  Kathy Baer of Golden Valley was at the Minneapolis Farmers Market getting a head start on decorations.

But personally, Baer doesn't like the thought of buying a tree online.

"For some people, it might be a nice convenience but for me it would never work," she said. "Picking out your own tree with your family is just too much fun, so I would never do it online."

J.R. Ronnei, a manager of the Farmers Market, said he's not sure what kind of impact Target's new venture will have.

"Of course, competition is always something you have to deal with," he said.

Krueger's Christmas Tree Farm in Lake Elmo has been in business for 55 years.

"I don't think we will lose any customers," Krueger said. "You can go online or you can come here and have a real experience with a real tree at our farm."

Some nonprofits use Christmas tree sales as fundraisers. For Jefferson Elementary in Minneapolis, tree sales raise more than $3,000 to help fund field trips and buy school supplies. They, too, believe their customers won't switch.

"I certainly hope that they don't go to Target because we offer really, really beautiful balsam firs at a really reasonable price and we are lucky that half of the proceeds come here to Jefferson," Jane Teinter said.

Target did not return requests for comment.

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