Turkey’s status as the centerpiece of Central New York Thanksgiving meals is slipping, with demand for the bird dropping to a 43-year low nationally last holiday season.
According to a CoBank report however, inventories are up 4% from last year, despite a turkey supply that is down 100 million pounds since 2018.
The decline is driven by bird flu outbreaks, high feed costs, and inflation. Meanwhile, consumer interest in alternatives like beef and pork is rising.
However, ground turkey sales are up 5.5% from last year, suggesting a shift away from whole birds. Despite the challenges, a Butterball survey shows 87% of Thanksgiving hosts still plan to serve turkey this year.
