November 15, 2007

Thanksgiving costs in Va. rise, but still affordable

RICHMOND—Virginians will be able to feed their families a Thanksgiving meal for a little more than $4.07 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 $40.74. The dinner menu includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

VFBF reports this year’s average is slightly higher than in 2006, when the average total price was $38.65.

The locality surveyed with the highest average cost for a meal was Charlottesville at $49.92. The locality with the lowest cost was Wytheville at $30.69.

“We are seeing higher prices for livestock than in the past, and energy costs are the big culprit,” said Jonah Bowles, a VFBF commodity and marketing specialist. “The average cost of the centerpiece of the meal, a turkey, has risen by more than $2 this year. Processed food prices have also increased due to the rise in fuel cost, and that will be reflected in this year’s cost to the consumer.”

Based on surveys of grocery stores throughout Virginia, Farm Bureau found the average cost of a 16-pound turkey was $18.19 or $1.14 a pound. That’s up 9 cents from last year’s average of $1.05 per pound.

The organization found that the average price for a gallon of milk was $4.07; for peas, $1.33; for a 3-pound bag of sweet potatoes, $2.76; for celery $1.45; for carrots, $1; for pie shells, $1.99; for whipping cream, $1.69; for canned pumpkin pie filling, $1.90; for cranberries, $2.21; for stuffing mix, $2.44; and for rolls, $1.71 a dozen.

“It is really good to know how affordable America’s food supply is during this holiday season,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “Virginia farmers are very proud during Thanksgiving to help provide safe, wholesome food for family celebrations.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the farm portion of each food dollar spent in the United States this year is about 22 cents. Using that percentage across the board, the farmer’s share of the average Thanksgiving meal cost in Virginia would be $8.96.

Americans spend just 9.9 percent of their disposable income on food annually.

Contact Bowles at 804-290-1117 or Sherri McKinney, VFBF video producer, at 804-290-1148.