DELAWARE - As Thanksgiving approaches, families in Delaware are preparing for the annual feast. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 38th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey, Delawareans are spending slightly more than the national average for this celebratory meal.
The survey, which provides insights into the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for ten people, reveals that nationally, the average cost is $61.17, translating to less than $6.20 per person. In Delaware, however, the average cost rises to $64.05 or less than $6.45 per person. This aligns Delaware’s expenses closely with neighboring states across the Northeast, averaging $64.38 for the holiday event.
Farm Bureau volunteers surveyed between Nov. 1-6, just before most grocery stores slashed prices on whole frozen turkeys. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data also indicates a decline in average per-pound prices for these turkeys as Thanksgiving approaches, offering potential savings for last-minute shoppers.
Veronica Nigh, Senior Economist at AFBF, highlighted the decrease in turkey prices, attributing this decline to a reduction in avian influenza cases, allowing increased turkey production in time for the holiday. The survey's shopping list includes quintessential Thanksgiving items: turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, serving a family of 10 with ample leftovers.
However, while there's a slight improvement in Thanksgiving dinner costs, AFBF President Zippy Duvall acknowledged the ongoing challenge of high inflation affecting families and farmers nationwide. He emphasized the need for support through modernized safety nets, especially with rising expenses in fuel, seed, fertilizer, and transportation.
The annual AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey, initiated in 1986, continues to provide a comparative analysis of holiday meal expenses. The consistent menu for the survey aims to offer reliable comparisons across the years. For more insights into the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit www.defb.org.