it is almost turkey day. as you are planning your thanksgiving dinner it is interesting to look where the food comes from and how the prices are influenced by weather patterns and global politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
expana just came out with their thanksgiving dinner index. it is down 3.3%. the index tracts price fluctuates across the key commodities that make up a traditional thanksgiving dinner. that would include turkey, the star of the table, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, and pecan pie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the price of whole turkeys for roasting has remained flat despite the low harvest levels due to continuation of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the united states. despite the below average turkey harvest, there has also been low demand as consumer demographics have changed in age and ethnic composition. frozen 16-pound toms are currently 14% lower than last year. if you prefer ham instead turkey (or with your turkey) the pork index remains about the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sweet potato prices fell by 2.0%. north carolina is the biggest supplier of sweet potatoes. they appear to be having a promising harvest despite the drought and flood conditions they suffered this year. price of potatoes is up 7.6%. the usa and canada potato harvests are 4% smaller than last year. idaho and washington had favorable weather conditions but have ongoing erratic weather patterns and labor shortages. california is the largest carrot producing state but have had shortages due to the extended heat conditions. luckily the midwest had above average harvests for the price of carrots dropped 4.6%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for the bread index expana looked at wheat, yeast extract, butter and salt. the bread index fell by 3.6%. the price of wheat flour remains unchanged despite an early 2024 price surge with concerns over the russian invasion of ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
the pecan pie price index looks at pecans, sugar, vanilla, and butter prices and rose by 8.0%. there was an 8.6% increase in the price of pecans imported from mexico. this was partially offset by a 14% decrease in sugar prices, despite high global prices due to the fires in brazil, a major sugar exporter. the large harvest of vanilla in madagascar resulted in a 14% decrease in the price of the product. there was also a 14.5% increase in butter prices. the price of eggs has also gone up as a result of the continued hpai outbreak in poultry around the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
i hope everyone is able to enjoy a happy thanksgiving and give thanks to the farmers in america and around the world that made it possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n