This year’s Thanksgiving dinner costs less than last year’s thanks to turkey prices falling to their lowest point in five years, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The group, which has conducted an annual survey since 1986, found that a classic feast for 10 will total $58.08. It was $61.17 in 2023 and $64.05 in 2022. Turkey accounts for 43% of the overall price.
Despite a drop in production, turkey prices hit 94 cents per pound in 2024 after reaching $1.40 in 2023 and $1.55 in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The decline in production was attributed to an avian flu outbreak, which has affected 14.2 million turkeys since 2022. But while the turkey supply reduced, demand fell even faster, causing prices to decline.
USDA estimates that per capita demand for turkey dropped to 13.9 pounds in 2024 from 14.8 pounds in 2023, 14.6 pounds in 2022, 15.3 pounds in 2021 and 15.7 pounds in 2020.
States produced 6% fewer turkeys this year, USDA said, with 2023’s 218 million projected to fall to 205 million. That would mark the lowest number produced since 1985, according to the Farm Bureau.
The top six turkey-producing states accounted for 67% of the turkeys produced in the United States during 2024.
The largest turkey-producing state was Minnesota, at 33.5 million turkeys in 2024, a 13% decline from 38.5 million last year. North Carolina produced the second-most with 27.5 million turkeys, followed by Arkansas’s 25 million, Indiana’s 20 million, Missouri’s 15.5 million and Virginia’s 15.4 million. Only Indiana’s production did not decline.
According to the National Turkey Federation, around 88% of Americans enjoy turkey as part of their holiday feast each year. That adds up to more than 46 million turkeys, according to the USDA.
But not every turkey raised for consumption makes it to the dinner table.
In a tradition that started with Harry Truman in 1947, President Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom, 17-week-old male turkeys from Northfield, Minn. They were raised by National Turkey Federation Chairman John Zimmerman, who along with his family has raised more than 4 million turkeys on his farm over more than 20 years.
Governors held annual turkey pardoning ceremonies as well. Among them, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Tuesday pardoned Caitlin and Clark, named after the reigning WNBA rookie of the year who starred at the University of Iowa.