Thanksgiving costs in Va. drop for first time in three years  - 2009-11-17

Virginians will be able to feed their families a Thanksgiving meal for a little more than $4.37 per person this year, according to an informal price survey conducted by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

The survey of the price of basic items found on Americans’ Thanksgiving tables places the average cost of a traditional meal for 10 adults this year at $43.72. The menu includes turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

VFBF reports this year’s average represents a price decrease of a little more than 3.5 percent compared to 2008, when the average total price was $45.30.

The area surveyed that had highest average cost for a meal was Amherst County at $50.45. The county with the lowest cost was Rockingham at $37.

“The message here is that we have reversed a three-year trend that was higher prices, and now we are seeing lower prices for the consumer,” said Jonah Bowles, VFBF market analyst. “I look at the areas with the highest and lowest costs, and the trend we are seeing is that grocery store competition means a lot more than the cost of living index. You can shop and find values if you are willing to look for them.

“The average cost of the centerpiece of the meal, a turkey, has declined by about 5 percent, down by $1.03 this year. This is all positive news for your Thanksgiving meal shopper.”

Based on surveys of grocery stores throughout Virginia, Farm Bureau found the average cost of a 16-pound turkey was $19.29 or roughly $1.21 a pound. Last year’s turkey would have cost $1.27 cents per pound.

The organization found that the average price for a gallon of milk was $3.18; for peas, $1.68; for a 3-pound bag of sweet potatoes, $2.35; for celery, $1.88; for carrots, $1.63; for pie shells, $2.19; for whipping cream, $1.64; for canned pumpkin pie filling, $2.37; for cranberries, $2.45; for stuffing mix, $2.75; and for rolls, $2.31 a dozen.

“As we sit down this year to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal it is reassuring to know our food is still affordable,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “The farmers who raised our food are honored to be able to provide safe, fresh and locally grown food for Virginia’s families during this time of thanks.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that the farm portion of each food dollar spent in the United States is about 19 cents. Using that percentage across the board, the farmers' share of the average Thanksgiving meal cost in Virginia would be $8.31.

According to the USDA, Americans spend slightly less than 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food—the lowest average of any country in the world.