Thanksgiving shoppers face higher turkey prices this year as family farms grapple with significantly elevated production costs ahead of the holiday season [1]. Wholesale turkey prices nationwide have risen 12% in 2024, driven primarily by increased feed costs [1]. At DiPaola Turkey Farms in Hamilton, New Jersey, a 78-year-old family operation, the surge in input costs has forced difficult pricing decisions. Farm owner Artie DiPaola attributed the increases to higher prices for corn and soybean—the primary feed ingredients for turkeys—which have risen 10 to 12 percent [1]. These cost pressures have resulted in a 30-cent per pound price increase that DiPaola implemented despite the emotional difficulty of raising prices on loyal, long-standing customers [1].
The impact extends beyond individual farms to the broader agricultural sector. DiPaola emphasized that "production costs are all up wherever we look," reflecting systemic inflationary pressures affecting turkey producers [1]. However, smaller family farms like DiPaola's have found some relief through customer loyalty and increased sales volume. DiPaola noted that "the increased sales help offset some of the rising costs that we're experiencing daily," suggesting that higher prices may be partially sustainable if demand remains strong during the Thanksgiving period [1]. The 12% wholesale price increase represents a significant cost burden for retailers and consumers preparing holiday meals, with individual farm-level increases of 30 cents per pound translating to measurable impacts on retail turkey prices.
CONCLUSION
Turkey prices are rising sharply this Thanksgiving season, with wholesale prices up 12% nationally due to elevated feed costs, forcing family farms to implement 30-cent per pound increases [1]. While smaller producers face emotional and financial strain from these price hikes, increased sales volume may help offset some rising operational costs [1]. Consumers should expect noticeably higher turkey prices at retail during the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday.