Overview
- Major retailers rolled out low-cost holiday bundles, with Target offering a four-person dinner under $20 including turkey and Walmart selling a 10-person basket under $40 with a Butterball turkey at $0.97 per pound, its lowest price since 2019.
- The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 survey puts the traditional 10-person meal at about $5.52 per person, with higher costs reported in states like California and New York.
- USDA/FSIS guidance for last‑minute cooks highlights safe thawing: roughly 24 hours in the refrigerator per 2 kilograms or 30 minutes per pound in cold water with water changes every 30 minutes, followed by immediate cooking.
- New York City nonprofits scheduled free turkey distributions, food deliveries and hot meals, including programs by Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, WSCAH, Masbia and other neighborhood groups.
- Holiday operations vary widely on Nov. 27, with many restaurants like Starbucks and McDonald’s open in most locations, chains such as Chick‑fil‑A and Chipotle closed, and large retailers in New York including Walmart, Target and Costco not opening.