Halloween isn’t even here yet and I’m already dreaming of Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is a an overlooked holiday, in my opinion. Sure, the history is a bit sketchy but the day is a good excuse to gather with family and stuff your face. However, this year, finding the perfect turkey may feel like an actual bird hunt because turkey prices are on the rise and many fear a shortage thanks to the avian flu.
Before you panic-buy a frozen bird the size of your car, here’s the good news: El Paso won’t be going full turkey-less this Thanksgiving, though your wallet might feel it.
Across the country, turkey production has dipped this year thanks to a combination of higher feed costs, smaller flocks, and outbreaks of bird flu that wiped out millions of turkeys. In fact, the U.S. turkey population is at its lowest in about forty years.
All that means fewer birds on the market and higher prices at checkout. Some reports say wholesale turkey prices are up nearly 40% from last year, ouch! But before you start Googling “tamales instead of turkey,” relax. You’ll still find plenty of frozen and fresh turkeys in stores. They just might cost a little extra this time around.
What’s Happening in the Borderland?
Here in El Paso, things are looking a little better than the headlines make it sound. Local stores like Albertsons, Walmart, and Food King already have turkeys in stock, according to shoppers. It’s still early, so now would be the best chance to get your bird, rather than waiting until mid-November. Supplies are fine now, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving, prices could climb and the best sizes might disappear first.
READ MORE: El Paso Thanksgiving Forecast
So no, El Paso, there’s no need to stuff your freezer in a panic. Turkeys are still gobbling around town, even if they’re a little pricier this year. And if your family decides to swap the bird for tamales, brisket, or even enchiladas? That’s just another delicious Borderland twist on Thanksgiving.
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Gallery Credit: Joanna Barba