The smell of fresh Christmas trees is in the air at the Heron Bay MarketPlace, where shoppers thronged for the latest shipment of evergreens.

The Southampton store set up a Christmas Wonderland at the site of the old Sousa’s Landscaping across Middle Road.

With six containers on order from Canada, each containing about 200 trees, the chain has bought in “more than we have ever had before”, according to Vernon Hassell, vice-president of purchasing and procurement — and despite taking a hit from higher labour costs, the company believes its prices are the island’s lowest this year.

The shipment last week got held up by the Great Lakes snowstorm, with just two containers making it to Bermuda, but the balance has come through this week.

Two containers got cleared by Department of Environment and Natural Resources staff with trees going on sale come 10am yesterday.

Another container is awaiting inspection at the Shelly Bay MarketPlace, with sales to go ahead shortly — and staff have the supermarket’s Christmas Parade to look forward to on Sunday.

Demand has been good, Mr Hassell said, with trees emerging “really green and really full”.

“We’ve had nothing but compliments on the condition of the trees from Customs through to the customers.”