SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. – This year for Thanksgiving, the national average for feeding a family of 10 will cost $58.08, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Spectrum News 1 put the number to the test by stopping by Big Bunny Supermarket in Southbridge.

What You Need To Know

  • Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner will cost $58.08 on average this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation

  • The AFBF reports the average in the Northeast is $57.36

  • Big Bunny Market in Southbridge is a locally owned store and has been open fore more than 70 years

  • According to the AFBF study, a Thanksgiving meal is still 19% higher than it was in 2019

“Start with the front of store, we've got a bunch of Thanksgiving items, a 14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing," Jonathan Cournoyer said. "Head over to the meat department.”

Store manager Jon Cournoyer said you’ll be saving a bit on the holiday bird this year. The USDA reports a lower demand in turkey may be factoring into the 6% drop in price from last year.

“Obviously, the turkey is the center of the plate. So, probably most Americans eat turkey one or two times a year," Cournoyer said. "These are less expensive than they've been the last few years, which is great for people's wallets.”

Individual prices are, according to the AFBF study:

  • 16-pound turkey: $25.67 or $1.60 per pound (down 6.1%)
  • 14-ounces of cubed stuffing mix: $4.08 (up 8.2%)
  • 2 frozen pie crusts: $3.40 (down 2.9%)
  • Half pint of whipping cream: $1.81 (up 4.7%)
  • 1 pound of frozen peas: $1.73 (down 8.1%)
  • 1 dozen dinner rolls: $4.16 (up 8.4%)
  • Misc. ingredients to prepare the meal: $3.75 (down 5.1%)
  • 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $4.15 (down 6.5%)
  • 1 gallon of whole milk: $3.21 (down 14.3%)
  • 3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $2.93 (down 26.2%)
  • 1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): $.84 (down 6.4%)
  • 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.35 (up 11.8%)

The AFBF reports this year’s national average of $58.08 is down 5% from 2023 and down 9% from 2022. And this year, the average cost for these items is reported to be $57.36 in the Northeast. Our total at Big Bunny came in a bit lower at $52.99.

Cournoyer said the key to a successful holiday for the local grocery store is catering to their community.

“We've been here for over 70 years in the community. We recognize people when they're shopping," Cournoyer said. "Everybody has their signature dish. People are doing the green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, lots of different things. So, you want to make sure you have all of that stuff in stock on sale with great prices.”