November 21, 2017 at 4:52 p.m.
Cost of Thanksgiving dinner less than $5 a person
Cost of Thanksgiving dinner less than $5 a person
"This year's survey came in 54 cents lower than last year's price of $47.91," Wisconsin Farm Bureau's spokesperson Amy Eckelberg said in a press release. "The survey's total price of $47.26, when divided by 10, shows a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal can cost less than $5 per person."
The American Farm Bureau Federation's national survey of the same items (turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and beverages of milk and coffee, all in quantities sufficient to serve 10 people) averaged $49.12, $1.86 more than Wisconsin's price.
"Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude," Eckelberg said. "This year we can be thankful for our farmers who are working hard to provide an abundance of food for us to enjoy."
TALKING TURKEY
Wisconsin's average price for a 16-pound turkey was $21.92 in 2016. This year the price of the same 16-pound turkey is $20.96, down 96 cents.
"Grocers typically feature turkey in special sales and promotions leading up to Thanksgiving," Eckelberg said. "Watch for an even better bargain as the holiday approaches."
Turkey production across the U.S. has fully rebounded from the 2015 Avian Influenza crisis that occurred throughout the Midwest. There is a plentiful supply of turkey, hence the lower price in this year's survey.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
Wisconsin's Thanksgiving price survey is an informal, annual review of food price trends in relation to changing farm prices, weather and wholesale and retail food marketing. Wisconsin Farm Bureau members collected price samples of 12 Thanksgiving food items in 33 communities in October and November.
"The survey shows that food prices are extremely stable," Eckelberg said. "This is the lowest price the survey has reflected since 2010."
Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals. While Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest farm organization. Made up of 61 county Farm Bureaus, it represents farms of every size, commodity and management style.
The Thanksgiving price survey is an informal measure of prices at grocery stores in Wisconsin. The prices reported reflect variations in communities and retailers. The prices reported are not validated by any outside source. Prices were collected in the communities of Appleton, Ashland, Belleville, Beloit, Chilton, De Pere, Dodgeville, Eau Claire, Ellsworth, Elroy, Janesville, Lodi, Manawa, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Medford, Mequon, New Richmond, Paddock Lake, Pewaukee, Platteville, Plover, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, Saukville, Shawano, Sheboygan Falls, Sparta, Union Grove, Verona, Waterford, Watertown and West Bend.
Comments:
You must login to comment.