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Wholesale Turkey Prices Are Up by a Staggering 40% This Thanksgiving

Suppliers remain confident there will be enough turkey to go around.

U.S. turkey stocks have plummeted to a 40-year low amid bird flu outbreaks, driving up wholesale prices by almost half. The American Farm Bureau Federation reports that tighter production is putting a squeeze on the nation’s flock ahead of Thanksgiving. It said wholesale turkey prices are about 40 percent higher than last year. Data from the USDA shows that 514,000 birds have been affected by avian flu this month. In total, 2.2 million birds have died in the past year across 12 states. Despite this, the National Turkey Federation remains confident there will be enough to meet demand, Axios reports. The USDA predicts wholesale prices will creep up $1.32 a pound. In all, there is a five percent drop in the total weight produced compared to last year. Speaking to Axios, Leslee Oden, president and CEO of the National Turkey Federation, said, “We feel confident in the frozen turkey supply, and while there’s been an uptick in bird flu cases, we do not see those impacting overall supply right now.” She added that people with specific weight and size requirements may want to book theirs in advance.