As Arizonans sit down at the Thanksgiving table to dig into the traditional feast this year, the turkey dinner with all the trimmings will cost $71.88 for an Arizona family of 10, or around $7.19 per person. This is an overall increase of $22.26 or just over 44.86% more than the 2021 Arizona Thanksgiving meal ($49.62). In comparison, American Farm Bureau’s national market basket for a Thanksgiving dinner meal for 10 this year is $64.05, approximately $7.83 less.

 

Without factoring in-store coupons or specials (priced prior to store specials), the cost of a 16-pound turkey purchased in Arizona this year was $32.02, or $2.00 per pound, which reflects an increase of $0.79 per pound compared to last year’s $19.40 16-pound turkey, or a 65.29% increase from the 2021 turkey price. “Current inflation is showing its ugly face across every item of the traditional market basket meal,” says Arizona Farm Bureau Outreach Director Julie Murphree. “Our one consolation is most families share the cost of putting the Thanksgiving meal on the table with various family members contributing specific items.”

 

The 2022 Arizona Thanksgiving meal cost estimate is the result of the Arizona Farm Bureau’s annual informal Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey of the prices of basic food items found on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner table. Volunteer leaders from the Arizona Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee throughout Arizona went into their local grocery stores the week of November 7 to price-check the market basket items.

 

The Arizona Farm Bureau survey shopping list includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, milk, plus pumpkin pie with whipped cream, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty of leftovers. To make a proper comparison, these items are the same food items used in the Farm Bureau survey for the past three decades.

 

“Go to Arizona Farm Bureau’s Fill Your Plate to see a category called Thanksgiving Dinner recipes in our recipe section,” adds Murphree. “Our Arizona families asked us to feature these special recipes, some from our Arizona farm and ranch families.”

 

“Although we will be paying more for our Thanksgiving meal this year, it’s important to remember that Arizona's farmers and ranchers go to work every day to produce the highest quality and safest product for our Arizona families. You may be seeing a higher price in certain food groups in your local grocery store but the costs to produce those items have increased exponentially including fuel and transportation costs,” said Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse, a cattle rancher, alfalfa and specialty crop farmer from Pima County. “And because of the complexities of our food system, the average farmer is not generally getting more money for their product. Even with the increase in food costs, Arizonans will still be spending a smaller portion of their family budget on food than anywhere else in the world.”

 

Arizona farmers and ranchers produce most of the ingredients in the traditional Thanksgiving meal including dressing (bread, onions and celery), peas, pumpkin, pecans for pies, and several others. Even roses, sometimes used for holiday centerpieces, are grown in Arizona.

 

“Arizona Farm Bureau is grateful to all Arizonans for supporting local farm and ranch families and we wish you a very blessed Thanksgiving,” Smallhouse added.

 

Adds Murphree, “I challenge our Arizona families to put their sophisticated shopping hats on and beat our market basket price of $71.88. Most Arizona shoppers can beat our market basket since we don’t shop with discounts. During this time of high food prices, we must give thanks by giving to others in need. Some Arizona families are really feeling the high prices for food and gas.”

 

The average price of the remainder of the menu is listed below, also showing the comparison to last year’s market basket.

 

Arizona Farm Bureau comparison over last year:

 

2022                            2021                 

 

Turkey, 16 lbs.                                    $32.02 U                     $19.40             

Cube Stuffing, 14 oz.                          $3.93   U                     $2.78               

Pumpkin Pie Mix, 30 oz.                    $5.11   U                     $3.86               

Pie Shells (2)                                       $5.08   U                     $3.46               

Sweet Potatoes, 3 lbs.                         $5.09   U                     $4.26               

Brown & Serve Rolls, 12                    $4.28   U                     $3.14               

Frozen Green Peas, 1 lb.                     $2.27   U                     $1.67               

Whole Milk, 1 gallon                          $3.34   U                     $2.49               

Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz.                    $3.01   U                     $2.54               

Whipping Cream, ½ pint                    $2.79   U                     $1.87               

Vegetable tray, l lb.                             $0.83   U                     $0.70               

*Misc. ingredients                              $4.13   U                     $3.45               

 

Items We Track Not Included in Overall Total

Fresh Ham, 1lb.                                  $3.06   U                     $2.36               

Russet Potatoes, 5lbs.                         $2.74   U                     $2.21               

Frozen Green Beans, 1lb.                   $2.18   U                     $1.60               

                        

*Coffee, onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter

 

Prices of past surveys include: 1993 - $24.99; 1994 - $26.93; 1995 - $28.68; 1996 - $30.37; 1997 - $26.14; 1998 - $27.41; 1999 - $33.82; 2000 - $34.11; 2001 - $35.05; 2002 - $34.43; 2003 - $36.28 (national figure); 2004 - $35.22; 2005 - $37.69; 2006 - $39.22; 2007 - $51.14; 2008 - $52.81; 2009 – 40.47; 2010 – 44.17; 2011 – 50.06; 2012 – 47.53; 2013 – 48.63; 2014 - 46.16; 2015 - $47.83; 2016 - $46.27, 2017 - $39.82, 2018 - $39.17, and 2019 – $42.68 2020 - $47.02; 2021 – $49.62

 

Organic prices include 2011 – 106.39 (benchmark year); 2012 – 87.23; 2013 – 91.00; 2014 - 95.76; 2015 - $98.03; 2016 - $94.86; 2017 - $93.51. 2018 – 95.96. 2019 – (did not price for 2019). 2020 – 96.49 (Did not price for 2021 or 2022)

 

The Farm Bureau Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey is unscientific but serves as an indicator of actual price trends across the state. This survey is based on shelf prices at the time item prices were captured and does not reflect special prices and promotional gimmicks.

 

Arizona Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee shoppers involved in this year’s survey were asked to identify the best in-store price, excluding promotional coupons and special deals. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.

 

The Arizona Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and improving the agriculture industry through member involvement in advocacy, communication and education that include programs and services to support our Arizona farmers and ranchers and our 25,000 members. As a member services organization, individuals can become a member by going to www.azfb.org


For information on member benefits call 480.635.3609. For recipes, farmers markets, farm products and farms to visit, go to Arizona Farm Bureau’s www.fillyourplate.org.