The cost of your Thanksgiving turkey is down six percent this year. That is not welcomed news for farmers who raise them.
“I think the main thing to note about turkey prices this year is that [on] the wholesale level, we’ve seen dramatically lower prices in 2024 compared to what we were seeing in 2023 and 2022,” explains USDA Economist Michael McConnell. “In 2024, we’re forecasting the average hen price to be $0.94 per pound. That’s in comparison to last year, where we had an average of $1.40 per pound, you know, a pretty stark decline
The USDA economist says those prices have hit turkey producers hard, highlighting the sharp decline in prices that peaked in 2022. Producers have been cutting production ever since.
While there may be an abundance of cheaper turkey meat this year, another key holiday ingredient might be a little more difficult to find this season: celery, a common ingredient in stuffing and dressing recipes.
Grocery shelves are seeing a lower supply this year after crops produced in California were impacted by a soil-borne crop disease known as fusarium.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, consumer demand is expected to rise, meaning prices will likely strengthen for now.
