THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY FARM BUREAU RELEASE
Cooking a Thanksgiving feast for your friends and family will cost less than last year but will still be more expensive than before the pandemic. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the national average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person.
This is a 5% decrease from 2024, and it’s 14% lower than 2022. Three years of consistent declines don’t erase dramatic increases that led to a record high cost of $64.06 in 2022. Despite the encouraging momentum, a Thanksgiving meal is still 12.8% higher than it was in 2019, which highlights the impact inflation has had on food prices – and farmers’ costs – since the pandemic.
A similar survey conducted in Vermilion County showed shoppers can find the same meal for a cost of $55.45, slightly higher than the national average for the second consecutive time in 25 years. The local prices dropped 6% over the last year.
The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – helped bring down the overall cost of dinner. The average price for a 16-pound turkey is $21.50. That is $1.34 per pound, down 16% from last year, with the local price at $1.49 per pound.
The shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers. This basic shopping list has stayed the same for 40 years to allow for comparison.
But in recognition of changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, the Farm Bureau price survey also includes ham, potatoes and frozen green beans. Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increased the overall cost to $77.09 nationally, and $74.89 locally. Our local ham prices were considerably higher than previous years making the jump to $13.96 from $8.68.
The AFBF outlines the severe economic and weather-related challenges currently threatening farmer’s financial stability. “Crop prices have fallen again while fuel, fertilizer, labor and machinery costs continue to climb, leaving many operations below breakeven. Weather challenges, including drought, flooding and hurricane damage, added further strain, and weaker export demand continues to pressure income. This combination has contributed to a poor farm economy marked by tight margins and rising financial stress. As producers navigate another uncertain year, effective support remains essential to keeping America’s food supply stable, affordable and secure.”
The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey provides a record of comparative holiday meal costs over the years. Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
