First Staters celebrating Thanksgiving might have to pony up more cash to enjoy the holiday.
According to the American Farm Bureau, the average cost of this year’s holiday feast for 10 is $61.17 nationally, or less than $6.20 per person.
In Delaware, that cost is $64.05, or less than $6.45 per person.
Delaware’s average Thanksgiving dinner costs are similar to other states across the northeast part of the country, which averaged $64.38 for the holiday event.
The main course seems to be a bit cheaper, though.
“Traditionally, the turkey is the most expensive item on the Thanksgiving dinner table,” said Veronica Nigh, senior economist at the bureau. “Turkey prices have fallen thanks to a sharp reduction in cases of avian influenza, which have allowed production to increase in time for the holiday.”
The shopping list for the bureau’s survey included turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream – all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty of leftovers.
“While shoppers will see a slight improvement in the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner, high inflation continues to hammer families across the country, including the nation’s farmers,” said Zippy Duvall, the bureau’s president. “Growing the food families rely on is a constant challenge for farmers because of high fuel, seed, fertilizer and transportation costs, just to name a few.”
He said even though high food prices are a concern for every family, America still has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world.
“We’ve accomplished that, in part, due to strong farm bill programs,” he said. “Although our focus is sharing time with family and friends this Thanksgiving, our thoughts also turn to encouraging Congress to double down on a commitment to passing a new farm bill with a modernized safety net to support those who raise the crops and livestock that supply Thanksgiving dinner and every dinner.”
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
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