The Thanksgiving table may be a little less crowded this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but by most accounts Georgians still plan to celebrate the holiday, and central to the celebration is the Thanksgiving meal.
The American Farm Bureau Federation traditionally calculates the cost of the Thanksgiving feast every November, and for 2020, the average price has dropped $2.01 for an average cost of $46.90 for a family of 10. That includes everything from the turkey to stuffing (dressing if you're a Southerner), sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and a vegetable or two.
"The average cost of this year's Thanksgiving dinner is the lowest since 2010," said AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton in published comments. Newton said the average price for turkey is 7% lower than 2019.
While AFBF averages prices nationwide, Georgia products are pretty affordable this year, too.
Start with dessert
With agriculture making a $76 billion impact on the state economy each year, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has always encouraged Georgians to support local farmers. The emphasis has been even greater this year with the ongoing pandemic, and while it may not be possible for everything on the Thanksgiving table to be Georgia grown, a large part of it can be.
Paul Thompson, Division Director of the Marketing Division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, said dessert comes first for those looking for something Georgia grown.
"Everybody thinks of pecan pie...and Georgia is one of the top pecan growers in the nation," Thompson said. "The word [from the Georgia Pecans Growers Association] is that we have a huge crop this year."
Jeremy Echols, the Produce Manager for Jaemor Farm Market in Hall County, said he's been pleased with the supply of pecans out of South Georgia this season. He said the prices are comparable to 2019 prices, so that makes customers happy. Plus, there are some North Georgia pecans that individual growers have been bringing to the market this fall.
"The quality is great this year and the local crop is huge. We crack some [pecans] for the public, as well, and this is the most they've brought in in years," Echols said. "The hurricane [Zeta] knocked a lot of them to the ground, so they're bringing them in a lot earlier than normal."
If you want to add an apple pie to your dessert offerings, then you can use Georgia-grown apples. Jaemor grows the Arkansas Black variety on the farm, but Echols said they also purchase other varieties from orchards in more northern parts of the state.
Plus, Jaemor has been know to grow a pumpkin or two - or several thousand - for fall. Most are decorative, but pie pumpkins are also grown in the fields in North Georgia.
Eat your vegetables
Paul Thompson said Georgians need to remember locally-grown vegetables when they're planning the Thanksgiving menu. He mentioned collards and other greens, a dish that's often reserved for New Year,'s Day, but he said markets sell plenty for Thanksgiving, too.
"Greens are a big part of Thanksgiving," Thompson said. "Certainly you can find Georgia-grown greens on the shelf as well."
Even some of the larger chain stores will buy local produce when the supply is available.
Thompson said sweet potatoes and squash are plentiful right now.
Echols said the farm crews at Jaemor even picked a supply of late home-grown tomatoes this past Friday.
It's not easy to find a home-grown turkey in Georgia
Of course, a turkey is typically the centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table, but finding a homegrown turkey might be a little tricky.
"We're a huge poultry state, but the vast majority of that is chickens and eggs," said Thompson. "That being said, it is not impossible to find a Thanksgiving turkey in Georgia."
Thompson said small farms will grow what he called "pastured poultry" for public sale. That includes turkeys. With Thanksgiving only a few days away, it may be difficult to find one this week, but there's always the possibility of placing an order for Christmas.
"A good place to check might be your local extension office to see if there are any local growers in your area," Thompson said.
All the extras
Thompson and Echols both pointed out the variety of other Georgia-made items for Thanksgiving - or any other day, for that matter - that are available right now. Honey and sorghum syrup are plentiful; Georgia dairies produces milk and cheese; Satsuma oranges are now being harvested in South Georgia. Of course, the pie kitchen at Jaemor is always busy producing cakes, doughnuts and specialty breads.
For more information on the Georgia Grown program, follow this link.
