Turkey wholesale prices hold steady ahead of the Thanksgiving season, AgriLife reports

TEXAS (KAUZ) - According to Texas A&M AgriLife, shoppers should find plenty of turkeys for sale at grocery stores this Thanksgiving.

Experts with AgriLife said that wholesale and retail prices are slightly higher per pound than last year, but market factors suggest shoppers can find deals on centerpiece Thanksgiving turkeys.

In late October, wholesale whole turkeys averaged $1.80 per pound, compared to $1.69 per pound for the same week last year. AgriLife said wholesale prices this year have run consistently higher than in 2025, but the gap has narrowed.

Texas A&M AgriLife said that turkey production has recovered from last year’s decline of more than 8%, with the number of birds going to market up about 3%, and heavier average weights push total pounds of production up nearly 6%.

Although a few highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks have been reported in recent weeks, according to AgriLife, there are not enough to significantly affect holiday supplies.

Better demand, higher wholesale prices and lower feed costs have also improved conditions for turkey producers. AgriLife said Thanksgiving turkey demand has held up well over the years, while demand for a second turkey around Christmas has faded.

More on turkey prices ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday can be read in Texas A&M AgriLife’s “Plenty of turkeys this Thanksgiving as wholesale prices hold steady” by Karn Dhingra.