FOWL BILL: THANKSGIVING FEAST PRICES UP 20%
Like everything else these days, your Thanksgiving feast next week will most certainly gobble up more of your wallet as inflation and other factors trigger major price hikes.
The average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people will be $64.05, which is a 20% jump from last year’s average of $53.31, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey released on Wednesday.
The Thanksgiving feast cost has spiked 37% since 2020’s dinner price of $46.90.
Turkey costs are up 21% on average — $28.96 for a 16-pound bird, or $1.81 per pound.
The Farm Bureau cited general inflation as “a significant factor contributing to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.” Inflation has been running 7% to 9% in recent months, while the most recent Consumer Price Index report for food consumed at home reveals a 12% increase over the past year.
“Other contributing factors to the increased cost for the meal include supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine,” said AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan. “The higher retail turkey cost at the grocery store can also be attributed to a slightly smaller flock this year, increased feed costs and lighter processing weights.”
Locally, fresh turkeys at Bob’s Turkey Farm in Lancaster cost 16% more this year. The price has increased from $4.29 per pound to now $4.99 per pound.
“That was a really big jump for us,” Jennifer Brezniak of Bob’s Turkey Farm said on Wednesday. “It wasn’t easy for us to do at all.
“We had a really long conversation about not burdening people and not sinking our own ship,” she added, noting their rising costs and how families are feeling the impact of higher prices.
The price of feed is up 30% this year as the Central Massachusetts farm raises 8,000 birds. Electricity and packaging costs have also jumped.
Despite the increased cost for turkeys, customers have been “overwhelmingly positive and understanding,” Brezniak said.
“We’ve been on their table for 10, 20 years, and they want that tradition to continue,” she added.
The supply of whole turkeys available to consumers should be adequate this year, although there may be temporary, regional shortages in some states where avian influenza was detected earlier this year, Cryan said.
“Farmers are working hard to meet growing demands for food — both here in the U.S. and globally — while facing rising prices for fuel, fertilizer and other inputs,” he added.
While turkey costs are up 21%, stuffing has the biggest rate increase this year, according to the Farm Bureau survey. A 14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix is $3.88, a spike of 69% from last year.
The survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and milk to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.
In addition to the classic Thanksgiving feast for $64.05, the Farm Bureau has an “updated Thanksgiving dinner” that adds in ham, russet potatoes and frozen green beans for a total cost of $81.30. This updated basket of foods is up 18% from last year.