Thanksgiving is fast approaching. American Farm Bureau sent volunteers out to various grocery stores to determine what the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people would be. One thing that’s important to note: in the United States, food spending accounts for a smaller portion of our income than in other countries. Currently, the estimate is that Americans spend about 12% of their income on food.
It is interesting to note that this is the second year in which the price of turkey has decreased. Prices had risen in the past due to avian flu, which led to a reduced availability of poultry. Some of the distribution challenges of the pandemic era have also been overcome.
Have you ever heard of Food Check-off Day? If you start January 1 and devote every penny you earn toward food, that is the day you would earn enough to feed yourself for a year. In the United States, that day is in early February.
Returning to the subject at hand, what is included in this Thanksgiving shopping trip? Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray with carrots and celery, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and milk. The total cost of this meal for 10 people was $58.08. That’s about 5% less than last year.
Those doing the research added in a few specialty items to enhance the dinner. If you include a boneless ham, potatoes and green beans, you add $19.26 to the total.
This is the 39th year that American Farm Bureau has done this informal survey. The prices were compiled by grocery store shoppers.
Many of these items are available from local farmers at various times during the year. Purchasing local does take a bit more planning.
For example, if you’d like a locally raised turkey, it needs to be reserved in the early fall. Peas and beans are not available this time of year, so if you want local you need to can or freeze them during the summer. Many of the other items are available at farmers markets that remain open through the fall.
Locally, sweet potatoes and white potatoes are still available at farmers markets, as are other vegetables such as squash, Brussels sprouts and parsnips. If you aren’t a pumpkin pie fan, there are many kinds of locally grown apples for apple pie or apple crisp.
Not sure where to find things locally? Niagara County Cornell Cooperative Extension has that information on its website (cceniagaracounty.org). Products grown in New York state should be labeled as such in the grocery store.
As we gather around the Thanksgiving tables this year, we can appreciate the farmers who grow the plethora of products we consume. The farmers appreciate the consumers who support their efforts. May your holiday be enjoyable for all.
Margo Sue Bittner, a.k.a. Aggie Culture, has been involved in Niagara County agriculture for more than 40 years. She has experience in dairy farming, fruit production and, as the proprietor of the Winery at Marjim Manor, wine agri-tourism. Ask her any question about local agriculture and if she doesn’t know the answer herself, she knows who to get it from. Email margo@marjimmanor.com or call 716-778-7001.