

Creating a decolonized menu can focus on more of the foods traditionally prepared and served by Native Americans. The movement to decolonize Thanksgiving focuses on acknowledging the historical racism and violence toward Native Americans instead of perpetuating the “Pilgrims and Indians” narrative and celebrating the continued cultural contributions of these tribes. Since turkey is just one element of the many colonial myths and stereotypes surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday, this can be an opportunity to revamp the menu to honor Native Americans. Each poussin can be stuffed individually, he said, and “everyone can get their own little mini-roast turkey on their plate.” Or for a more turkey-adjacent experience, Del Coro suggests poussin, a young chicken that weighs about 1 to 1½ pounds and is popular in Britain. Try a whole roasted duck with balsamic glaze for crispy, succulent skin, rosemary-brined guinea hen or roast pheasant with cornbread stuffing. If you’d like to stick to the poultry theme, Del Coro recommends guinea hen, pheasants and ducks as replacement birds, which “are more available and less expensive than turkey,” he said. “Venison was certainly part of the original Thanksgiving meal and is seasonally appropriate,” with cuts similar to a beef roast or steaks that can be prepared with seasonal accompaniments. His Thanksgiving meal often incorporates foods that were more frequently eaten in preindustrial North America.įor example, game meats used to be a common staple of the American diet, he said. “I personally understand that Thanksgiving is all about tradition, but it’s OK to have fun with tradition,” Del Coro said. If you’re feeling adventurous or considering opting out of serving turkey this year, here are some alternatives for the Thanksgiving menu. “Now wholesale is coming back, but retail demand is still there.” While home cooks will likely be able to find a frozen turkey at the market, the size and price may not be ideal. With more options returning for dining out on Thanksgiving, there’s “increased demand on the same supply,” he said. “For the past two years, people have been eating at home and hosting smaller gatherings,” while restaurants and hotels pulled back on serving large Thanksgiving feasts.


“The purchasing trends have shifted,” Del Coro said. Distributors and retailers add markup costs before the turkey gets to your cart.įor those who had planned on cooking the traditional turkey for Thanksgiving, this year might be the time to try something different. As Del Coro explained, the USDA weekly pricing report shows wholesale pricing for commodity birds - not free-range, organic or any other so-called premium descriptor. In case such prices seem affordably low, they are not the final ones you’ll see in the butcher case. Indeed, costs for all turkey parts have increased across the board, including bone-in fresh and frozen breasts, drumsticks and ground meat. While that’s nearly a 28% increase per pound, “the overall costs are in line with what everyone has been experiencing all year” with food prices and inflation, Del Coro said. Whole frozen turkey prices have increased from $1.15 per pound at this time in 2021 to $1.47 per pound for the week of October 28-November 3, 2022, according to the US Department of Agriculture. However, avian flu outbreaks and inflation’s impact on fuel, feed and labor costs have contributed to higher prices for turkeys. Unlike last holiday season, where supply chain and labor issues caused ingredient shortages, there should be enough frozen turkeys to go around for Thanksgiving. “We’re not seeing a shortage of supply,” said Ben Del Coro, vice president of sales and marketing at Fossil Farms, a New Jersey-based purveyor of sustainable and all-natural meats and farm-raised game. There’s no need to start hoarding turkeys. (CNN) - If you’re feeling ruffled by recent reports that turkey prices are on the rise, don’t panic.
