According to data, the price of a customary Thanksgiving meal in Wisconsin is 1.36% lower this year Wisconsin Farm Bureauin the annual Marketbasket survey, which was $58.81.
“After several years of steep increases, it’s nice to see even a slight decline in prices,” said Cassie Sonnentag, director of media relations and outreach at WFBF. “Here at America’s Dairyland, we have some of the cheapest food options, making our Thanksgiving meal 3.9% cheaper than the national average.
The Marketbasket study examines the prices of popular food items used to prepare a Thanksgiving meal enormous enough for 10 people. This study compares food prices in Wisconsin to food prices nationwide. By comparison, a survey of the same products by the American Farm Bureau Federation showed a 4.5% decline from 2022, with domestic prices at $61.17.
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About the survey
The Wisconsin Thanksgiving Basket Study is an informal, annual review of food price trends as they relate to changing farm prices, weather, and wholesale and retail food marketing. In November, members of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau collected a sample of Thanksgiving grocery prices.
Volunteers shopping at Farm Bureau were asked to look for the best prices, without using special promotional coupons or purchase offers.
Turkey, the main ingredient of the Thanksgiving meal, contributed most to this change, as its price per pound was $0.21 lower than a year ago in Wisconsin. This is largely due to a decline in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza last year. Turkey prices are a enormous contributor to the overall price change, but statewide, all food items saw a marginal escalate. The main contributors to these increases are persistent inflation combined with the summer drought.
| Wisdom 2023 | National 2023 | |
| Türkiye, 16 lbs. | $26.56 | $27.35 |
| Milk, 1 gallon whole | $3.24 | $3.74 |
| Cream, half a liter | $1.94 | $1.73 |
| Dinner rolls, 12 | $3.63 | $3.84 |
| Spice tray (1 pound carrot/celery) | $0.88 | $0.90 |
| Fresh cranberries, 12 oz. | $2.29 | $2.10 |
| Pumpkin cake mix, 30 oz. | $4.35 | $4.44 |
| Cake shells (2) | $3.58 | $3.50 |
| Cube filling, 14 oz. | $3.16 | $3.77 |
| Sweet potatoes, 3 lbs. | $3.42 | $3.97 |
| Frozen green beans, 1 lb. | $1.86 | $1.99 |
| Various ingredients | $3.95 | $3.95 |
| TOTAL | $58.81 | $61.17 |
Farmer’s share of food dollars
Although food prices fluctuate from year to year, farmers’ share of food dollars remains close to just 15%. According to Economic Research Service of the United States Department of AgricultureA food dollar refers to the spending of one dollar on food produced and produced domestically by American consumers.
Many factors continue to influence the price of food, including the costs of production, transport, trade, energy, advertising and labor.
“The bottom line is that farmers are price takers, not price makers,” Sonnentag said. “Despite changing prices at the grocery store, the farmer’s share of the food dollar typically stays very close to 15 cents on the dollar.”
Sensible practices for a balanced meal
When making decisions at the grocery store, shoppers can be assured that they are purchasing food from sustainable sources.
According to Gather Wisconsin, preserving and protecting natural resources has always been and will always be a priority in every aspect of food production. Farmers are innovators and continue to create and adopt methods to achieve their goals. Farmers apply the latest technologies and novel practices to improve catchment quality and soil health and reduce their impact on the environment.
These sensible practices not only facilitate protect the environment, but also facilitate keep food prices low in stores.
“Every decision on the farm is made clearly with both the environment and the consumer in mind,” Sonnentag said. “Innovative solutions and precision technologies enable farmers to achieve more with less, contributing to a sustainable food supply.”
Shoppers can also contribute to protecting the environment. About one third of the food produced by people in the world is lost or wasted. Shoppers can reduce food waste at home by sticking to shopping lists, getting original with leftover food, or donating unopened and non-perishable food items to local food pantries.
