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Turkey shortage could mean higher prices for Thanksgiving
Frozen turkeys sit in a refrigerated case inside a grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
It’s November, so it’s time to talk turkey.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning families that turkeys may cost more this Thanksgiving due to a nationwide turkey shortage. An avian flu outbreak led to the death or culling of about 6 million turkeys, roughly 14% of the U.S.turkey population.
John Roberts, owner of Olivor Heritage Farms in Florida, told Fox 13 that farmers have been dealing with a avian influenza for more than a year, and commercial poultry farms are especially struggling because if one bird tests positive, the federal government will euthanize an entire flock.
“You can have 100,000 birds in one chicken house. They start testing positive and [the government will] destroy the whole house,” Roberts said. “If it goes to the next house over and the next house over, some of these places have a million birds on one farm, so you can lose a lot of birds really quick.”
Axios reports turkey prices are already up around 28% compared to the same time last year. An eight to 16-pound turkey costs $1.47 per pound, up from $1.15 last year, according to USDA data.
Potatoes, gravy and other Thanksgiving fixings are also expected to cost more due to inflation. The cost of food at home is up 13% from last year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index.
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