~ Press release provided by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
RICHMOND — The average price for a 10-person Thanksgiving meal in Virginia is $80.48, down from $81.07 last year and $91.30 two years ago.
According to an informal survey conducted by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the average cost to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal with items sufficient to make 10 servings is $8.05 per person.
The survey’s menu consists of turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, rolls, carrots, celery, cranberries, green beans, peas, milk and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
This year’s statewide average decreased by 59 cents — 0.73 percent less than the 2024 average of $81.07 for a 10-person meal.
A dinner without ham, russet potatoes and green beans cost $58.27, or $5.82 per person. Last year’s meal without those three ingredients was $58.41, or $5.84 per person.
This year, the average price for a 16-pound whole frozen turkey during the data collection was $27.50, or $1.72 per pound. This represents a 2-percent increase in price versus the 2024 average of $1.68 per pound.
Prices reported by volunteer shoppers were collected between Oct. 20 and Nov. 6 — before major retailers began offering holiday discounts, promotional sales or coupons.
“As we get closer to the big day, stores are running more features to attract Thanksgiving shoppers — whether that be coupons, buy-one-get-one deals or other promotions,” noted Elijah Griles of VFBF communications. “Stores are trying to move turkeys, which are the single most expensive item in a Thanksgiving meal.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nov. 10 retail report indicated that the Southeast region’s average price for an 8- to 16-pound whole frozen turkey was $0.84 per pound.
This is the 22nd year Virginia Farm Bureau has conducted the survey, which is based on an annual survey organized by American Farm Bureau Federation. Volunteer shoppers checked prices online and in person at 36 grocery stores throughout the state — from the Northern Neck to the far Southwest.
The VFBF survey also discovered the average price for a 4-pound boneless ham was $17.20, while last year’s average price was $17.56.
For the other ingredients in a traditional Thanksgiving meal, the survey showed that the average cost of a gallon of whole milk was $3.45; frozen peas, $1.72; frozen green beans, $1.73; three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.18; a 5-pound bag of russet potatoes, $3.28; fresh celery, $1.78; fresh carrots, $1.36; two pie shells, $3.42; whipping cream, $3.39; canned pumpkin pie filling, $3.86; fresh cranberries, $2.06; stuffing mix, $3.25; and a dozen dinner rolls, $3.30.
Most items decreased in price versus 2024 values except for frozen peas, fresh celery, carrots, pie shells and stuffing mix. Frozen peas were 2 cents higher, fresh celery was 6 cents higher, carrots were 4 cents higher, pie shells were 2 cents higher, and stuffing mix was 12 cents higher than last year.
“Farmers keep farming,” Griles noted. “Despite challenges like avian influenza, high input costs and the lack of a sufficient safety net from the absence of a farm bill, we have a stable and affordable food supply because our farmers and food system find paths to success.”
The locality with the highest cost for a traditional Thanksgiving meal was Orange County at $117.31. The locality with the lowest cost was Richmond City at $55.85 for a 10-person meal.
Nationally, American Farm Bureau Federation’s survey found the average cost of its classic Thanksgiving meal for 10 was $55.18 — a 5-percent decrease from 2024 and the survey’s third consecutive year of decline. The basic AFBF survey does not include ham, russet potatoes and green beans, which were added to the survey in 2018 to reflect more Thanksgiving favorites. With these items included in the AFBF findings, the national average cost for a traditional meal was $77.09 — $3.39 less than the average cost of those items in Virginia.
The national average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey is $21.50, or $1.34 per pound — down more than 16 percent from last year.
“It’s encouraging to see some relief in the price of turkeys, as it is typically the most expensive part of the meal,” said AFBF Economist Faith Parum. “Farmers are still working to rebuild turkey flocks that were devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen. The combination will help ensure turkey will remain an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”
AFBF also reported that volunteer shoppers checked prices the first week of November, before the average price for whole frozen turkeys declined further the following week.
Read details about the AFBF survey findings.
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But wait, the Dems tell me all the time that costs are up. I guess Trump and Youngkin know what that are doing. But libs just elected a spy for governor so I’d give her 6 months before she’s calling for regime change in Iran.
With a muslim Lt Gov, I doubt calling for regime change in Iran is top of mind. Like an abusive spouse, the blasphemous koran instructs believers to kill infidels like Spanberger.