It’s Thanksgiving week, when every American is thinking abut food. And of course, food is your business, Commissioner.

Commissioner:

While you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving meal this year, I hope you’ll take a moment to give thanks for our South Carolina and US farmers who grow safe, nutritious and affordable food for families across the country and the world.

The 39th annual American Farm Bureau Federation Thanksgiving dinner survey found that the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people this year is $58.08, or about $5.80 a person.

This cost fell for the last two years, but it’s 19 percent higher than five years ago. We are still feeling the effects of those dramatic price increases from 2022.

We specifically saw cost increases in processed products this year. Dinner rolls and cubed stuffing both increased over 8% from 2023. Nonfood inflation and labor shortages have driven up costs across the food supply chain.

Still, Americans enjoy very affordable food. In 2022, food spending accounted for 6.7 percent of US consumer expenditures, the lowest among more than 100 countries tracked by ERS.

It’s always a good year to choose Certified South Carolina foods for your Thanksgiving table. Keep an eye out for the Certified SC logo at the grocery store or farm stand.

Thanksgiving is an important family-time holiday for me, and this year more so than ever. I’m thankful that my family is healthy and happy.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the South Carolina Department of Agriculture!