II am planning to spend Saturday walking to the park in my neighborhood to get the first installment of my monthly participation in the winter farm. This first pickup is great. That’s mainly because it includes the Thanksgiving turkey that I reserved a few weeks ago.
I didn’t hold back and chose the organic grazing option. I’m paying very well: $ 7.99 per pound. Twenty-one pounds later, my wallet hurts. But price inflation is hard to avoid anyway, and this turkey is a gift once a year.
Traditional Thanksgiving favorites are facing major price increases and inflation this year.
getty
I am often asked if there is really something ethical and sustainable to buy, especially when it comes to meat. This close to Thanksgiving, I almost constantly answer questions about my turkey and how it was produced.
Here’s the explanation I always share: There are tradeoffs with just about any food. I choose organics because I care about pollution and I care about synthetics damaging the soil, waterways, airways, and surrounding communities. Pasture-raised and antibiotic-free are options that stem from a similar rationale. Nothing is perfect. I am as concerned about the treatment of workers on small farms as well as on large meatpacking plants. But I prefer to spend my money consciously, mainly on local farms that participate in alternative economic structures. I bought my bird through my farm share’s affiliate partner network, which eliminates distributors and other middlemen, while helping their farmers better predict sales. Farmers earn more from these turkeys than they do from grocery stores, which have to go through industrial supply chains.
These purchasing decisions are extremely personal, and it is beyond irritating that many people are not in a financial position to make these decisions in the first place. That’s why I analyzed the most comprehensive price data to date to see where inflation is least affecting the ingredients for Thanksgiving this year. America’s 400th Thanksgiving is expected to be the most expensive, and I’m concerned about the long-term impacts of rising food costs, as are 68% of families recently surveyed by NielsenIQ.
Last-minute planners still have time to get to a farmers market, which accepts federal assistance and supports regional growers. I bet some stalls will have turkeys.
Once I have my bird, it will be time to go through the annual practice of rewrapping my head around my turkey process: brining, butter composed of paprika, garlic and thyme, and drizzling with juices while it roasts. Fresh Take will be on hiatus next Thursday while the birds (or whatever else you’re tasting) cook, and it’ll be back in your inbox on December 2. We wish you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving!
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The smart buyer’s guide to the worst Thanksgiving price hikes of 2021
Turkeys on a farm in Orefield, Pennsylvania, USA
© 2021 Bloomberg Finance LP
It’s been a wild year for rising food prices, thanks to inflation, a shortage of trucks, and supply chain failures. Heading into the biggest foodie holiday of the year, those pressures have recently pushed some Thanksgiving ingredient prices up by double digits from last year’s costs.
But not everything is bad. Consumers are spending 18% less on turkey this year, while the cost of white potatoes has dropped overall. That’s based on a NielsenIQ analysis of actual prices at grocery stores across the country for the 30 days leading up to Nov. 6. NielsenIQ obtains pricing data directly from most retailers in the US.
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VIDEO: How to Save Money During the Most Expensive Thanksgiving Day Ever
His really looks at the Thanksgiving articles hardest hit by inflation for the Forbes YouTube channel.
No thanks: Average Thanksgiving dinner cost hits all-time high
Global supply chain problems continue to wreak havoc on everything from auto sales to soybeans, and inflation has skyrocketed in many countries around the world. The USDA reported last week that wholesale turkey prices are holding at record highs, but that doesn’t generally translate to what is trading on the shelves. Wholesalers and retailers are bearing the cost and continuing to offer in-store discounts.
The average cost of Thanksgiving food for 2021 is $ 53.31, according to the American Farm Bureau, up 14% compared to 2020. That’s based on roughly 200 surveys completed with price data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Rico, with volunteers specifically tasked with finding the cheapest one. Possible prices.
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Tofurky is having a great year. Killing the Thanksgiving coup won’t be that easy.
A Tofurky Holiday Roast is stuffed with wild rice and stuffed with breadcrumbs, to mimic a Thanksgiving turkey.
Tofurky
Tofurky saw a 631% increase in the number of plant-based ham roasts in 2020, and Tofurky is back in more orders than last year. Sales are up 20% so far.
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The Best Organic Wines to Serve This Thanksgiving
Christmas table with wine, hot soupe, baked pumpkin and carrots.
Universal Image Group via Getty Images
Whether you’re dining on turkey, ham, or a vegan Thanksgiving feast, there’s always room for several bottles of wine on the table. Given the current trends towards cleaner labels and transparency, organic wines and other sustainable wines are the Fresh drink choice. But how are organically produced wines located and what do all the certifications really mean?
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Featured Indian Cuisine at Minneapolis Eatery
Chef Sean Sherman, better known as The Sioux Chef, opened a restaurant in Minneapolis to great fanfare.
Owam
A powerful interview on the modern evolution of indigenous eating habits, which makes for a solid suggested reading after the turkey.
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By the numbers: America’s 400th Thanksgiving
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