More Photos (2):

Other articles by Howard Fischer:

Failed legislative bill leaves public-financed campaigns in doubtBurns: Brewer bungling her job House approves boost in funding for those seeking office next year 3 recommended to Brewer to fill seat on high court AZ can enact own greenhouse gas regsRecession reins in sprawl Pet bills aplenty pouring forth from Legislature Brewer wants budget right away, but not those other, lesser bills Flat-tax plan could hit walletsRepeal of ban on sparklers nears final OK

Health Care
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Construction
West-Press
Printing Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic

Turkeys may not fly. But the price tag for the centerpiece for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner continues to soar, driving up the cost of serving friends and family.

New figures from the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation show the cost of feeding a family of 10 this year will hit $52.81. That is not only up 3.2 percent from a year ago but nearly 35 percent higher than the 2006 dinner.

It also sets a record. (For details, click on chart below image at right.)

Julie Murphree, spokeswoman for the Farm Bureau, said much of the overall difference comes down to inflation, particularly as it relates to higher energy costs in the last two years. That has driven up not only the price tag for running equipment but what farmers pay for everything else, like feed.

Murphree said while fuel prices are dropping, there is a "lag time" before that is reflected in costs to farmers — and, eventually, what consumers pay. She said those lower gasoline costs should eventually begin driving food prices down no later than the second quarter of next year.

Another factor could be the diminishing size of Arizona's already tiny turkey production industry.

The issue this year, as it was last year, is a simple one of supply and demand: There just aren't as many turkeys being raised in Arizona, with the closure of Young's Farm near Dewey at the end of 2006 essentially ending any significant turkey production in this state.

Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that turkey production this year actually is down a bit, from nearly 271.7 million birds to less than 271.1 million.

You don't have to shell out the $1.49 a pound for turkeys that Farm Bureau shoppers found.

Many supermarkets offer one or more brands of turkeys — usually frozen — as "loss leaders" in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, selling them at below cost in hopes of pulling shoppers into the store to buy everything else. Chain stores also offer special deals to those who hold their store-loyalty cards.

For example, frozen birds are going for 47 cents a pound at Safeway and Fry's (with store discount cards, $25 minimum purchase required at Safeway), while Albertsons is selling at 45 cents per pound (no card required). Illustration by Chiara Bautista / Arizona Daily Star