According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “highly pathogenic” avian influenza has forced the poultry industry to destroy 48 million birds – chickens as well as turkeys – in 21 states, and disrupted the egg trade as well.
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This is due to two important factors: First, the turkey population was, again, only reduced by 3% this year, and second, numerous birds to be used around Thanksgiving were flash frozen and put into cold storage before the bird flu ramped up in March. While generally a bird cooks for about 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, there are a few factors that will alter that cooking time – like whether the bird is stuffed or not, fresh or frozen.
“I think its great for the community that a new store that they know that a lot of families cannot afford big Thanksgiving meal so its just wonderful that Meijer is a bigger store that can keeps their prices”, said Kelley. For example, a 16-pound premium frozen Butterball will cost about 64 cents per pound less than last Thanksgiving. Heavy rain washed out the pumpkin crop.
Retailers often use lower-priced turkeys to lure consumers into the store in the hope that they’ll stay and buy other foods for the holiday.
You still have something to give thanks for because you won’t be seeing any shortages in your produce when shopping for your Thanksgiving meals.
“We actually have more larger birds this year than last year, so supply has not been affected for us”, he said.
Sunshine Foods and Franklin Food Market, both local grocers in Sioux Falls, say they have not seen an increase in turkeys, frozen turkeys that is. While the California drought has pushed vegetable and fruit prices higher, the picture at the supermarket is mixed.
Prices of cranberry are estimated to be about the same as 2014.
With people already buying their turkeys for Thanksgiving, they seem to be in good supply. Shopper Marnie Miller said she’s happy to hear that.
Drivers likely will pay the cheapest Thanksgiving gasoline prices since 2008. Butter for all those mashed potatoes and pie crusts has dropped to around $3.08 a pound compared with $3.82 a year ago.
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Purdue University agricultural economist Corinne Alexander said in a report that grocery prices increased by only 0.8 percent from September 2014 to September 2015 – a lower than normal uptick.
