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Some Christmas tree farms open more than a week early
Krueger’s Christmas Tree Farm opens at noon Wednesday and reservations are required online for pre-cut and cut your own trees.
LAKE ELMO, Minn. — It may not feel like it, but Christmas is just 42 days away.
And real tree sales are spiking lately. So much that some farmers say 75% of the crop is picked over by the first weekend of December.
“It used to be Thanksgiving weekend as the kickoff, and then the next two, but folks have started coming out earlier and earlier each year,” said Krueger’s Christmas Tree Farm owner John Krueger.
The trend started during the pandemic when there were also fewer trees, in part to a recession and drought that has impacted some trees.
“Maybe they’re not the same species or height that folks want, but we’ve always stayed open until Christmas Eve,” said Krueger. “We’ve always had trees available.”
The farm sells about 2,000 trees every year. The Fraser Fir is the most popular due to its familiar fragrance and needle retention.
“Each tree, just like people, have their own characteristics and pros and cons, so as a customer they get to choose what makes sense for them,” said Krueger, whose children will be the family’s fourth generation to run the farm.
Krueger is in charge for now – even leaving behind his corporate job to take over for the second season in a row.
“It’s clearly different work than running a mouse and doing emails and those types of things, but it’s so rewarding and refreshing,” said Krueger.
The farm opens at noon on Wednesday and to manage crowds, parking and staffing, reservations are required for both pre-cut and cut your own trees. You can click here to learn more about the reservation process and to make one.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
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