Average Virginian's Thanksgiving Meal Price to Fall This Year

Thanksgiving meals for families in Virginia may cost less than $5 per person this year thanks to cheaper turkey prices and other factors, according to a new informal price survey by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

The survey revealed the average cost of a traditional meal for 10 adults costs $46.45 this year, marking an 8 percent decrease from the 2013 average total. Prices will vary by locality, with families in Middlesex County experiencing the highest average cost at $58.08. The locality with the lowest average cost was Wythe County at $41.43.

“Anything associated with grain or that involves energy to produce will be lower this year than last year,” said Jonah Bowles, VFBF agriculture market analyst.

The survey’s menu includes:

• Turkey (16-pound) - $21.88 ($1.37 per pound)
• Dressing - $2.71
• Sweet potatoes (3-pound bag) - $2.56
• Rolls (dozen) - $2.11
• Peas - $1.44
• Cranberries - $2.25
• A relish tray of carrots and celery - $2.42
• (Celery - $2.56)
• (Carrots - $0.84)
• A gallon of milk - $3.84
• Pumpkin pie with whipped cream - $7.24
• (Pie shells - $2.40)
• (Whipping cream - $1.74)
• (Canned pumpkin pie filling - $3.10)

Prices were reported using no promotional sales or coupons.

Since VFBF began conducting the survey in 2003, the average cost of a family’s Thanksgiving meal in Virginia has increased by $7.33.

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, farmers receive 16 cents out of every dollar Americans spend on food. The other 84 cents go toward wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. Using that percentage across the board, farmers’ share of the average Thanksgiving meal cost in Virginia would be slightly more than $7 this year.

Image: Shutterstock