If you’re someone who waits until the last minute for Thanksgiving shopping, you might want to rethink that this year. There could be a turkey shortage on the horizon. Let’s be real: turkey is the main event at any traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It’s hard to imagine the feast without that golden bird taking center stage. People love posting their turkey pics on social media, and it’s usually the turkey and pies that steal the spotlight on Instagram and Facebook.
In our house, we have two vegetarians (our youngest daughters) who aren’t worried about the turkey situation. For them, it’s all about the sides, especially the stuffing that’s not cooked inside the bird. No turkey? No problem! But for us meat-eaters, it’s a big deal.
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. The turkey supply is at its lowest in 40 years, partly due to bird flu and reduced production. Prices are up about 40% compared to last year, with wholesale turkey prices expected to hit $1.32 per pound, up from 94 cents. Production is also down by 5%, with an expected 4.8 billion pounds available.
The good news? If you’re willing to spend a bit more, there will still be turkey on the shelves. Both Butterball and the National Turkey Federation assure us that there will be enough frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving, but fresh or specific-size birds might be harder to find. So, plan ahead and get your turkey while you can!
