Why Turkey Might Not Be Your Thanksgiving Centerpiece This Year

In a seemingly unimaginable situation, analysts at the Netherlands-based Rabobank are predicting that a few families will be skipping out on turkey in favor of gobbling down ham this year.

But the smaller, frozen turkeys we buy for Thanksgiving dinners were affected too. This year you can expect to pay around 9% more for those, according to government data.

Cranberries, white potatoes and sweet potatoes are expected to cost about the same as previous year. Bloomberg spoke with one farmer in Fort Worth, Texas, who is selling a honey-glazed ham for 15 percent less than what he charged a year ago.

A strong United States dollar is also leading foreign buyers to purchase pork elsewhere, with pork exports down 4 percent. Ceurvorst says he’s noticed an increase in price for his turkey lunch meats, and he’s anxious this supply could deplete as the year goes on.

This year’s bird-flu outbreak in the USA means turkeys will be…

Although we tend to think of it more around the holiday season the food bank says it’s important to keep the hungry in mind year round.

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates the wholesale cost of frozen turkeys will rise from $1.63 per pound to as much as $2.32 a pound, depending on where you live. Factors affecting the price include whether the turkey is fresh or frozen; whether it’s organic (meaning the bird is fed a pesticide and antibiotic-free diet); and the value of store coupons and specials. “In other words, the ones they use to produce products like turkey breasts for delis, turkey loaves or turkey burgers”, says Ceurvorst.