GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Thanksgiving may look a bit different this year for some.
The current turkey shortage could mean higher prices for the holiday, which means a number of families are ditching some traditions. But some Wisconsinites aren’t ruffling their feathers quite yet.
Lorna Hopfer is from Wisconsin Rapids, but comes down to Woodman’s near Appleton to do her family’s big grocery trips.
With Thanksgiving at the end of the month, she says looking for her perfect turkey now.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find any,” said Hopfer. “They said turkeys were going to be hard to find for Thanksgiving, so I thought I better see if I can find one early.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says turkeys are 23% more expensive than in 2021 as a result of inflation and the bird flu.
Woodman’s says it sold out of 24-plus pound turkeys first and fast. The store won’t be getting any more in that size but says it has many other weights for families.
“We have plenty of the 24 pounds and under,” said Becky Foth, assistant meat manager at Woodman’s.
Foth tells FOX 11 ever since they got the birds, they’ve been going fast.
“I think once the world’s back to somewhat normal after COVID, everyone’s trying to have the big celebrations.”
Even though the biggest turkeys are gone at the Fox Valley Woodman’s, Foth says she’s not worried they’ll run out of the other sizes.
“We got probably another 20-plus pallets of turkeys.”
Hopfer says as of now, prices are reasonable.
At Woodman’s, Jennie-O frozen turkeys are $1.59 per pound. Butterball frozen turkeys are $1.69 per pound.
“I’ve checked at some of the smaller grocery chains and they’re quite a bit higher,” said Hopfer.
It’s not just turkey.
“Everything from the cranberries to potatoes to everything,” said Hopfer.
According to IRI, an data and analytics firm, Thanksgiving items are expected to cost 13.5% more than last year.
But when it comes to the yearly holiday meal, Hopfer tells FOX 11 she’s not changing much about it — even with higher prices.
“We do a pretty traditional just plain turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry. I don’t do anything real fancy, so I think I can go with the staples.”
This year, adults under 32 plan to host around 10 guests this Thanksgiving, according to IRI.
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