Let's talk turkey: Does paying less mean sacrificing taste?

The American Farm Bureau Federation's annual estimated cost of the typical Thanksgiving dinner has fallen $1.70 this year, to $42.91, with milk and turkey contributing to the decline.

Customers typically into organic foods, would probably want to buy their Thanksgiving turkey at a place like Trader Joe's.  The fresh turkeys cost $1.79 a pound.

"The flavor is better, from what I've had in past," said Candace Johnson of Otsego.  "I do see a difference, it's a special turkey." 

"That doesn't meet my budget, things are tight, we'll go inexpensively," said another customer. 

On the flipside, customers can join the turkey war going on between several grocery stores, like Cub Foods and Rainbow Foods.  They are battling for the lowest price.

"We will not be undersold on turkeys," said Woody Hunt, store manager of Rainbow Foods in Saint Louis Park.  "The best bang for your buck is right there, 37 cents a pound is a heck of a deal."  He added he hasn't seen turkey prices this low in 20 years.

But the question is if customers are jeopardizing quality, by paying less.  After all, you get what you pay for.

Steve Olson, Executive Director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association says no.

"The turkey is going to have the same nutrients whether it's a fresh bird or frozen bird," said Olson.  "The fresh and frozen are raised in temperature controlled barns (nationwide), they get the same feed, same water as the others," he added. 

There is a reason for the price difference.

"You have heritage birds, organic birds, that tend to be more expensive," said Olson.  "Production costs are more, there's a longer time to grow them, higher cost invested in them and that's passed on to the consumer."

Olson also said grocery stores are taking a loss in turkey sales in order to get people in the stores.  It doesn't factor into the real cost to produce turkeys.

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