That's how long Beck's Holiday Specialties has been in Manteca.

The longest operating Christmas tree lot in town is still at 1156 N. Union Rd.

No one is more thrilled than Jenny Minjares of Modesto. She discovered Beck's a year ago through her brother.

“He lives in Manteca and told us about this place – there’s a great selection, the people are friendly and prices are reasonable,” she said on Tuesday.

The people at Beck’s Holiday Specialty are Rick and Julie Beck along with their sons, Tom and Jeff Beck, and their families.

They kicked off the seasonal business two days before Thanksgiving.

Rick Beck indicated that business has gone as well as expected but the inventory has taken hit no thanks to a year of winter ice storm, summer fires, and three scorching days of triple digits in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

“We have the same number of trees as before but not as many big trees,” Julie Beck said.

The current stock of freshly-cut trees are mostly Noble fir to go along with the selection of Douglas fir, Grand fir and Nordmann fir.

“We also do tree flocking,” said Julie Beck.

The advantage of a fresh flocked Christmas tree is the longer life span – flocking locks in the moisture while preserving the needles.

Minjares purchased a flocked tree and couldn’t wait to take it home. “We’re planning to come back here every year,” she said.

Beck’s, in addition, expanded its holiday selection with tree-related items such as floor protectors, decorative wreaths, mistletoes, pre-made bows, tree stands, cedar garlands, and take-and-bake pies from The Pie Company.

Business hours are daily, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information, click on to Beck’s Holiday Specialties on Facebook.