Allison Ericson, Valdosta Today News Director:

VALDOSTA — The American Farm Bureau Federation announced their 29th annual informal price survey for Thanksgiving dinner food items. The AFBF reported that this year the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner is $49.41, a 37 cent increase from last year’s cost of $49.04.

Unfortunately, Valdosta is ranked as the 20th most expensive place for Thanksgiving dinner according to NerdWallet finance. Valdosta residents pay an average of $55.49 on Thanksgiving dinner due to a grocery cost index of 112.3. NerdWallet compared the costs of 264 cities across the U.S.

“We took the average price of a basic Thanksgiving meal as tallied by the AFBF’s annual survey and then compared that to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s most recent grocery index,” Katie Ryan O’Connor, NerdWallet author said. “The goal was to give consumers a better understanding of how each dollar spent on groceries as a basic national average would compare more precisely in their area.

The Farm Bureau’s Thanksgiving dinner items include; turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, celery and carrots, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream. The average is based around the amount of food for 10 people.

The AFBF reported that although turkey might be the most expensive item on a person’s shopping list, it has decreased in price by roughly 11 cents since last year. The increase in cost was found on items like; sweet potatoes, milk, whipping cream, carrots, celery, peas, pumpkin pie mix, coffee, butter, onions, eggs, sugar, and flour.

Valdosta residents can cut costs by comparing the prices of these items between stores, as well as shopping locally and eating in-season vegetables.

O’Connor shared with Valdosta Today three other ways to cut costs;

• Know when to splurge. Certainly a free-range, heritage turkey can make an amazing centerpiece, but at upwards of $4 per pound, it may be hard to pass up the bargain that is the frozen bird currently on sale in your local supermarket—probably at $.99/lb or even free with a special promotion. It can still be delicious with the right preparation. Pro-tips: Don’t rush the defrost and definitely consider a brine.
• Share the burden. Don’t be afraid to consider a potluck Thanksgiving. Give friends and family advance notice (now would be good!) that you’d welcome any sides, desserts or beverages and watch the offers pour in. No one likes to show up empty handed anyway. Just coordinate responses to avoid several sides of green-bean casserole but no wine.
• Ignore your inner Martha (or Gwyneth). Thanksgiving is not the time for complicated new recipes with a lot of expensive, unfamiliar ingredients, no matter what celebrities tell you. Stick with the much-loved staples. The components are more likely to be on sale and family favorites are favorites for a reason.