Overview
- An analysis from Purdue University estimates wholesale turkey prices are up about 75% from last year, putting a typical 15-pound bird near $30.
- Grocery chains are using aggressive deals to draw shoppers, with examples including Aldi at 77¢ per pound, Walmart around 84–97¢, Lidl at 25¢ with a coupon, and Wegmans at 59¢ with a minimum purchase.
- Researchers attribute the cost squeeze largely to ongoing avian influenza and higher feed bills that include imported ingredients affected by tariffs.
- Veterinarians say frozen turkeys stored ahead of the holidays help buffer immediate shortages, though fresh, specialty and ground turkey products face greater risk.
- Minnesota has recorded more than 660,000 commercial poultry deaths this fall, and President Trump cited Walmart’s deal as evidence of affordability, which the retailer described as a value-focused promotion.