Did you know this is Farm-City Week?

Since 1955, the National Farm-City Council has supported educational programming to build interdependence between rural and urban citizens, and the president of the United States has annually proclaimed the week leading to and including Thanksgiving Day as National Farm-City Week. The council’s main mission is to bring awareness to non-farmers about food production in the U.S.

John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or call 601-636-5442, or e-mail.

The timing is perfect. So, it is most appropriate to take a moment to recognize and give thanks, not only for the abundant food we enjoy as Americans, but for the hard-working farmers and ranchers who produce it.  

I often hear individuals involved in agricultural production speak of their perception of urban Americans as “not having a clear understanding where their food comes from or how it is produced.” Another tidbit of information most Americans might not stop to realize this year is that the menu items for the classic Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie, will actually be cheaper this year than last.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has conducted a survey each year since 1986 to track the cost of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities to serve a family of 10. This year, the organization used 400 volunteer shoppers in more than 40 states to conduct the survey.

The results might surprise you. The average cost for this year’s feast for 10 is $42.91, a $1.70 price decrease from last year’s $44.61. Consumers are benefiting at the grocery store from significantly lower energy prices and the effects of the economic slowdown. Again this year, the cost per person for this special meal is less than a typical meal at a fast-food outlet. 

From data collected in the survey, the cost of a 16-pound turkey, at $18.65 or roughly $1.16 per pound, reflects a decrease of 3 cents per pound, or a total of 44 cents per turkey compared to 2008.

Milk, at $2.86 per gallon, dropped 92 cents and was the largest contributor to the overall decrease in the cost of the 2009 Thanksgiving dinner. 

From this 24th annual price survey, it is evident American consumers have really enjoyed relatively stable food costs over the years. In fact, today’s cost for the Thanksgiving meal for 10 at $42.91 is actually less than the comparable menu in 1986 at $28.74 when adjusted for inflation.

While Farm Bureau stops short of making any statistical claims about their survey data, it is probably safe to say it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation. Among the many blessings for which we can be thankful let us include the safe, abundant and affordable food supplied by our agricultural producers.

Happy Thanksgiving.