American Farm Bureau Federation

Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for your friends and family will cost less than last year, marking the third straight year of price declines.

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person.

This is a 5% decrease from 2024.

Three years of declines don’t fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in 2022.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables — the turkey — dramatically decreased in price, which helped bring down the overall cost of dinner. The average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey is $21.50.

That is $1.34 per pound, down more than 16% from last year. While the wholesale price for fresh turkey is up from 2024, grocery stores are featuring Thanksgiving deals and attempting to draw consumer demand back to turkey, leading to lower retail prices for a holiday bird.

Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers checked prices the first week of November. Grocery stores often feature whole turkeys at even lower prices in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. According to the most recent USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data, the average per-pound feature price for whole frozen turkeys declined further during the second week of November.

“It’s encouraging to see some relief in the price of turkeys, as it is typically the most expensive part of the meal,” said AFBF Economist Faith Parum, Ph.D.

“Farmers are still working to rebuild turkey flocks that were devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen. The combination will help ensure turkey will remain an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”

The shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, all in quantities sufficient for 10 servings.

Half of the ingredients in the survey declined in price, including dinner rolls and stuffing. Low wheat prices helped bring down the cost of items requiring flour.

Items like fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes increased — a veggie tray is up more than 61% and sweet potatoes are up 37%.

Natural disasters partly contributed to the increase. For example, North Carolina, which is the largest grower of the nation’s sweet potatoes, suffered hurricane damage. Additionally, fresh produce prices tend to be highly volatile, and even modest supply-chain disruptions, from weather, labor shortages, transportation delays or regional production setbacks, can trigger sharp, short-term spikes in prices. The continued shortage of farmworkers and rapidly increasing farm wages also played a role in rising produce costs. It’s important to note that fresh vegetables and potatoes are traditionally low-cost items, so an increase of just a few cents can dramatically affect the cost change percentage year-to-year.

“We are blessed to live in a country that is capable of producing such an abundant food supply, and for that we should be thankful.” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Despite modest declines in the cost of a Thanksgiving meal, I know food prices are a real concern for many families, including in rural America. We lost 15,000 farms last year because of factors including historically low crop prices, high supply costs and trade uncertainty, which continue to squeeze farmers and ranchers. Every farm lost is another step toward consolidation and reliance on other countries for our food.

“We urge Congress to address the challenging economic conditions facing farmers to ensure farm families can continue growing the food we all rely on, not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.” In recognition of changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, the Farm Bureau price survey also includes boneless ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans, in an expanded menu. Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increases the overall cost by $21.91, to $77.09.

This year’s national average cost was calculated using surveys completed with pricing data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers checked prices in person and online using grocery store apps and websites.

They looked for the best possible prices without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or combined purchase deals.

The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey provides a record of comparative holiday meal costs over the years. Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price com parisons.

Individual prices

• 16-pound turkey:

$21.50 or $1.34 per pound (down 16.3%)

• 14-ounces of cubed stuffing mix: $3.71

(down 9%)

• 2 frozen pie crusts:

$3.37 (down .8%)

◦ Half pint of whipping cream: $1.87 (up

◦ 3.2%)

◦ 1 pound of frozen peas: $2.03 (up 17.2%)

◦ 1 dozen dinner rolls: $3.56 (down 14.6%)

• Misc. ingredients to prepare the meal: $3.61

(down 4.7%)

• 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $4.16

(up .1%)

◦ 1 gallon of whole milk: $3.73 (up 16.3%)

3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $4.00 (up 37%)

• 1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): $1.36

(up 61.3%)

• 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.28

(down 2.8%)

Regional averages

AFBF analysis revealed regional differences in the cost of the meal. The cost for the classic meal was the most affordable in the South at $50.01, followed by the Midwest at $54.38, the Northeast at $60.82, and the West at $61.75. The expanded meal (classic meal plus boneless ham, Russet potatoes and green beans) was the most affordable in the South at $71.20, the Midwest at $76.33, the Northeast at $82.97, and most expensive in the West at $84.97.

AFBF also conducts an annual summer cookout survey in advance of the 4th of July holiday.

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

An explosion at the oil refinery in Artesia last month led to a state inquiry into the cause of the incident and its possible lingering health impacts on the community.

Artesia police reported the explosion at about 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at HF Sinclair Refinery located at 501 E. Main Street, also known as U.S. Highway 62/180, in Artesia.

The refinery processes crude oil extracted from the surrounding Permian Basin in southeast New Mexico and West Texas, with a capacity of about 100,000 barrels of oil per day of processed crude.

It’s a major employer for Artesia and the surrounding area with about 800 workers, mostly from within the local community.

The explosion led to the temporary closure of roads connecting to the refinery via Main Street, and at least three people were injured, according to HF Sinclar.

The company had yet to release the names or condition of the injured as of Nov. 21, but said it was working to determine the cause of the incident in a news release the day of the explosion.

HF Sinclair did not respond to a subsequent request for comment from the Artesia Daily Press.

The incident was reportedly caused by a “flash fire” created when flammable vapors leaked out of an oil pipeline and ignited, burning off quickly and subsiding in minutes, according to Jorge Estrada, spokesperson for the New Mexico Environment Department.

Estrada said the environment department’s Occupational Safety and Hazard Mitigation crews as well as air quality staff were deployed to the refinery in the weeks since the incident.

He said the department, which oversees worker safety and environmental compliance at the refinery, was not yet prepared to release the results of the inquiry.

“The state plays a critical role in assuring worker safety and environmental compliance at the refinery,” Estrada said in an email to the Artesia Daily Press. “The Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau are actively investigating the incident due to the injuries sustained by three workers.”

In the weeks since, a coalition of environmental groups called the Permian Basin Climate Justice Coalition urged the New Mexico Environment Department via a letter addressed to Cabinet Secretary James Kenney to expand monitoring in the area to determine if air quality was affected by the blast.

The coalition’s membership includes Carlsbad-based Citizens Caring for the Future, Santa Fe-based WildEarth Guardians and national organization Oilfield Witness.

Estrada said the agency received the letter and was investigating worker safety concerns and environmental impacts related to the explosion and also was investigating a similar incident that occurred in June. No one was reported injured in that event.

“The Department’s air quality compliance and enforcement program is reviewing the refinery’s permit in light of this fire, another incident that occurred about five months ago, and any associated emissions to determine compliance,” Estrada said.

Hayley Jones of Citizens Caring for the Future argued the southeast region of New Mexico, where the state’s nation-leading oil and gas industry is centered has only two state-run air monitors – one each in Carlsbad and Hobbs. Both monitors reported “good” conditions as of Nov. 21.

She said the environment department should increase monitoring in the region, a need underscored by the event in Artesia, to truly capture the effects of the booming oil and gas industry.

The environment department has 10 monitors in the southwest region of the state, mostly around Las Cruces and the U.S.-Mexico border.

There are three monitors along the northwest border between New Mexico and Colorado amid the San Juan Basin natural gas fields, and five monitors reside in north central New Mexico around Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe.

“Our communities shouldn’t have to wonder what’s in the air after an industrial disaster,” Jones said. “We deserve real-time public data and real protection.”

Charlie Burnett, a thermographer with Oilfield Witness, said air pollution emissions were documented repeatedly at the refinery in the last four years, without any state response.

“The recent explosion underlines the risk communities bear when industry privatizes profits and socializes harm to the community,” he said.

But aside from energy companies, communities and the entire state of New Mexico profit from the oil and gas industry, said Missi Currier, president of trade group the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.

She pointed to oil and gas revenue providing about half the state’s budget, generating about $14 billion for the state and local governments last year.

Currier said amid the windfalls of cash generated by oil and gas extraction, operators were also focused on improving and exceeding compliance with state environmental rules and reducing emissions.

“The oil and gas industry remains a cornerstone of New Mexico’s economy, and with thoughtful leadership and collaboration, it can continue to evolve as a responsible partner in sustainability,” she said.

Ruidoso car wash getting into the holiday spirit

Tim Keithley

For the Daily Press

Jessica Perez hardly knew anyone in town before she moved to Ruidoso to open Epic Car Wash.

Now about two years later, the owner and operator of the high-tech drive-through car and truck wash at 1811 Sudderth Drive calls nearly every customer by their first name.

“I’m a very social person,” Perez said. “I’m the one that typically makes the initial contact when customers drive-up. I make sure that we are giving our customers exactly what they want—a clean vehicle in a short time period– guaranteed.”

Perez said these days she can easily recognize her regular customers even before they roll down their driver’s side window to say hello. She can pick them out in advance by the make and color of their vehicle.

“I feel like the car wash has become an important small business to the community,” she said. “I’m very fortunate to have so many customers that support my business and that I now call them my friends.”

And this holiday season Perez’s business is giving back to that same community.

Epic Car Wash is offering a “Christmas Tunnel of Lights” as the drive-up lane to the car wash will be illuminated with hundreds of Christmas lights and decorations on the on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 29.

A $20 entry fee is required to go through the tunnel, including a wash, and refreshments will be provided to everyone in attendance.

A portion of the proceeds from sales will be given to Santa’s Helpers, a local organization that donates Christmas gifts and food to families within the community during the holiday season.

A change of pace

Perez had the idea to build a car wash in Ruidoso a few years before it opened. Born and raised in Las Cruces, she said she was familiar with the Texas tourists that tend to visit nearby Ruidoso with dirty vehicles.

But after graduating from New Mexico State University in 2007 with a degree in political science, Perez worked in political fundraising, working on congressional and gubernatorial races for about 15 years throughout New Mexico.

After the 2022 election cycle, she decided it was time for a new career.

“I did my research,” Perez said. “I was convinced that having a top-quality car wash would be a good business venture for a small town that relies heavily on tourism.”

Perez said her car wash is unique in the quality products it uses to keep customers’ vehicle shining, and attention detail in ensuring trucks and cars are fully clean before leaving the car wash.

Vacuums, glass cleaner and towels are do-it-yourself but free of charge, Perez said.

“We don’t skimp on our soaps,” she said. “We use high-tech chemicals in our cleansing liquids which are environmentally safe while protecting the vehicle paint.”

And this winter, Perez said she hopes her business will help give Ruidoso a shine as bright as the glow of the holiday season.

“Everyone feels better when they’re driving a clean vehicle,” she said. “That’s what we’re striving for—to make our customers happy.”

Ruidoso News columnist Tim Keithley writes about the people and events in the community. If you have a story idea, contact Tim at tkeithley@zianet.com.