Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 19, 1994 TAG: 9412190104
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Last winter's ice storms and the late frost in May destroyed Western Virginia's mistletoe supply, putting a freeze on sales - and, dare we say, romance - in the Roanoke Valley this holiday season.
"The storms just wiped it out," said Doug Muncy, a farmer from Martinsville who is selling evergreen sprays, wreaths and a small assortment of nearly berryless mistletoe on the City Market in Roanoke. "It's usually my best seller, too. I sell about $2,000 worth each year. I probably won't make a quarter of that this year."
Financial woes aside, this shortage could pose more than just economic problems. Mistletoe, a parasitic plant which grows in treetops, is best known for its cupid tendencies. Without the magic, will it be a kissless Christmas in Who-ville?
"It probably will be, if people are relying on mistletoe," said a grinning Ezra Wertz, owner of Wertz's Country Store. "I usually tell my customers it's the best investment they can make, that little sprig of mistletoe."
Wertz said most years, high school students from Franklin County bring branches and merry berries in by the bagful, but not this Christmas.
"The ice got it. Mistletoe is real tender. See how easy it breaks," he said, snapping off the tip of a stem.
Along the farmers' market stalls, the unseasonably sad story is much the same.
"There's none to get in Franklin County," said evergreen vendor Russell Harrison. "Franklin, Henry County, Patrick County, Floyd County, there's just none to be found."
But what's that you say? There's hope?
Sure enough, there at Campbell Street is a man with an impressive stash of mistletoe, complete with berries. But where did he get it?
"It's a secret," Rurik Zuidhoek said with a look of glee in his eyes. "Nah, I'm just kidding. I went south to North Carolina. I climbed up the trees and picked it out myself."
He sells small sprigs for a buck. His larger, hardy-looking branches with the hallmark, shiny white berries, go for a whopping $10.
"I climbed 80 feet to get that. I would've gotten more but it started raining," Zuidhoek said. "I figure I deserve the $10."
The Roanoke County Cooperative Extension office has received several calls this year from people who can't find phoradendron flavescens, a.k.a. American mistletoe.
"There was one man who wanted to know how to propagate it. He figured he could have himself a nice little business," said horticultural technician Barbara Leach. "But I don't have answers about how to get it started again or if it will come back on its own next year."
As for this Christmas, at least one man promised the shortage won't dampen his spirits.
"It's not going to bother me. I'm going to keep on kissing," said C.E. Stewart Jr. of Vinton, who was admiring wreaths with his wife. "We can't let no mistletoe stop that."
by CNB