Expana Publication Schedule for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday

Expana will be observing the Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. All US offices will be closed on those days; daily reports (red meat, poultry, eggs) will not be published, and the following weekly, biweekly, and monthly reports will be impacted:

• Pork, US Pork Export Market to Mexico and Latin America, will be published on Wednesday, November 26
• Beef, APAC, will be published on Wednesday, November 26
• Beef, Certified Angus Beef, will...

North Carolina Turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, Pardoned by President Trump

WASHINGTON — National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman Jay Jandrain, president and CEO of Butterball, LLC, presented the National Thanksgiving Turkeys named Gobble and Waddle to President Donald Trump today during the 78th National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation. After receiving their formal pardons from the president in the White House’s Rose Garden Club, Gobble and Waddle will return to North Carolina to live at North Carolina State University in Raleigh...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 37 - Thanksgiving Dinner Index Up 28% in 2025 

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

On today's episode, we dive into Expana's 2025 Thanksgiving Dinner Index. 2025 has been an extraordinary year. When we look back, we’ve seen unprecedented geopolitical events unfold, tariffs, trade agreements, inflation and other economic uncertainties. How has this impacted Thanksgiving staples? Listen now!

ANALYSIS: Comparing Cage-Free Demand This Thanksgiving to Last

Cage-free wholesale values continued to rise this week as Thanksgiving baking demand surged across retail channels. Large national chains have maintained affordable shelf pricing through November, driving strong consumer sales as households prepare for the peak baking period. At some of these chains, cage-free eggs are positioned below $1.50/dozen—an uncommon and striking inversion that puts them roughly 50cts below conventional shelf prices in many other regions. In effect, shelf prices are trending lower than they were heading into Thanksgiving last year, supporting consistent foot traffic despite ongoing pressure on household budgets...

The Retail Rundown: Cheaper Turkeys Hit Shelves Despite Wholesale Price Surge

This Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers might spot some relief: retail turkey prices have eased, even as wholesale values climb toward near-record highs.

Ongoing challenges, such as persistent bird flu outbreaks and relatively low hatch rates, have limited production all year, leaving supplies exceptionally thin ahead of the holiday. 

While retailers secure turkeys well in advance to build cold-storage inventories, frozen whole-bird stocks in 2025 remain near seasonal record lows, leaving little supply cushion...

Farm Bureau: Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Declines

Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for your friends and family will cost less than last year, marking the third straight year of price declines. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person.

This is a 5% decrease from 2024. Three years of declines don’t fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in 2022.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey...

The Retail Rundown: A Season of Plenty, Except for Turkey

For retailers, this year’s holiday season is shaping up to be one of plenty. The National Retail Federation (NRF) projects November and December sales to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, underscoring consumers’ continued spending power.

“American consumers may be cautious in sentiment, yet remain fundamentally strong and continue to drive U.S. economic activity,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

While foodservice outlets are poised to capture consumer traffic on hectic days, retail prepared foods and frozen entrées are well-positioned to compete for at-home dining occasions as shoppers seek convenient, time-saving meal solutions...

Kroger Relaunches Freshgiving Meal Bundle Ahead of the Holiday Season

With the holidays just around the corner, Kroger is relaunching its Freshgiving Meal Bundle — an assortment of mostly Kroger-brand Thanksgiving staples.

"At Kroger, we believe families deserve a Thanksgiving meal that is affordable and delicious," said Mary Ellen Adcock, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer. "Especially this year, we are giving our customers the quality they expect and the value they love, ensuring everyone has a memorable holiday."

Kroger has done the hard part by compiling a list of key...