Cost of Thanksgiving not up much this year

LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - The American Farm Bureau   has looked into what Thanksgiving turkeys are costing families this year, and the good news is that there hasn’t been too much of a price change on the major food items for the holiday.

Economists report that there has only been a 28-cent increase on every 50-dollars worth of food.

Still, many here in western Massachusetts say that they have seen families cutting back on what they purchase at the grocery store this season.

“I know in the past, I've seen a lot of things go off shelves a lot quicker, and this year we went to the grocery store and it seemed like there was a lot more left, so I think people are definitely being impacted by that,” Amelia Houghton of Longmeadow said.

One of the main factors that drive up food costs in households is, believe it or not, throwing food out. It's estimated that around $282 million worth of good turkey will end up in the trash this holiday.