Farm Bureau Says Thanksgiving Meal Costs Up 14%, Launches New Food Web Site

Higher turkey and milk costs helped push the average cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal 14% higher from one year ago, according to an annual survey conducted by the Arkansas Farm Bureau.

It will cost a family of 10, on average, $45.11, or $4.50 per person to enjoy a traditional meal, the agriculture group said. Last year’s average cost was $39.61.

“Food price inflation has been occurring for the past couple of years so the fact that the cost of the Thanksgiving dinner is higher is not unexpected,” said Travis Justice, Arkansas Farm Bureau chief economist. “Though fuel costs have leveled off somewhat over the past few months, they are up significantly from this time last year. Transportation costs continue to be a factor in higher retail food prices that are passed on to consumers.”

“There’s no escaping the fact higher energy costs and grain prices have led to higher retail food prices,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau president Randy Veach. “However, most Americans may still enjoy the Thanksgiving dinner with their families for less than five dollars a person. That is a testament to the efficiency of our nation’s farmers and food production system.”

The statewide average of Thanksgiving meal costs, which has been conducted for 26 years, is based on responses from members of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and other volunteers who surveyed food prices at 11 grocery stores and supermarkets across the state. The survey period was Oct. 28 – Nov. 7. The shopping list has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow consistent price comparisons. Though unscientific, the survey is intended to be a gauge of actual price trends across Arkansas and the nation.

TASTE ARKANSAS
Also, the Arkansas Farm Bureau has started a new food blog – TasteArkansas.com — to share recipes, profile farmers and to help explain the production process of farming.

“It’s critical to tell the story and importance of agriculture in today’s world and the farmer’s role in the food production process,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Ewell Welch. “Agriculture’s relevancy to a growing world population has never been more important than it is today.”

The new blog hopes to combat myths about food production, especially due to several recent documentaries that have depicted farming and food processing in a negative light.

“Recent success of books and films like Food Inc., Fast Food Nation, King Corn and Omnivore’s Dilemma should be a wake-up call that not everyone holds farming in high regard,” Welch said.

The blog features a new recipe weekly and will include holiday meal recipes. Profiles of Arkansas farmers who grow and raise food will appear monthly and the site will also include updates on the latest food-related news.

“What Saudi Arabia is to worldwide oil production, the U.S. is to worldwide food production,” Welch said. “We feed the world.”