As Brownfield and Terry County families prepare their Thanksgiving shopping lists, a look back 100 years reveals prices that sound almost unbelievable today: cranberries for 10 cents a pound and sweet potatoes for just a few pennies.
But comparing Thanksgiving in 1926 with Thanksgiving in 2026 takes more than putting two receipts side by side. A dollar bought more a century ago, and historical newspaper prices and modern supermarket promotions do not represent identical meals or national averages.
Still, the records offer a fascinating look at what has changed—and what families continue to weigh when planning their holiday gathering.
In its November 18, 1926, edition, the Clinton County Republican-News in St. Johns, Michigan, reported that local merchants expected plentiful Thanksgiving food supplies and prices similar to the previous year. Cranberries were listed at 10 cents per pound, sweet potatoes at 3 to 4 cents per pound, carrots at 3 to 5 cents per pound and celery at 10 cents per bunch.
The newspaper said turkeys had sold for about 55 cents per pound the previous year and dealers expected similar prices for 1926. That makes 55 cents a useful contemporary expectation, though it should not be mistaken for a measured national turkey price for 1926.
Other communities advertised different bargains. A Piggly Wiggly advertisement in Salem, Oregon’s Capital Journal on November 19, 1926, offered cranberries at two pounds for 29 cents, sweet potatoes at six pounds for 25 cents and two large bunches of celery for 15 cents. Even a century ago, the store and community mattered.
For Thanksgiving 2026, major retailers are promoting meals that keep the advertised cost below $4 per person. Walmart’s holiday basket is advertised at $35 for 10 people, while ALDI is offering a classic Thanksgiving meal for 10 for under $39.
Walmart’s offer includes turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, rolls and pumpkin pie ingredients. Its calculation assumes a 13.5-pound Butterball turkey at 97 cents per pound and approximately 3.2 pounds of sweet potatoes at 88 cents per pound. ALDI’s advertised meal includes a 16-pound turkey, traditional sides and pumpkin pie ingredients.
| Thanksgiving staple | Historical 1926 example | Advertised 2026 example |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey, per pound | About 55 cents anticipated by St. Johns dealers, based on 1925 prices | 97 cents, Walmart’s featured Butterball price |
| Sweet potatoes, per pound | 3–4 cents in St. Johns | 88 cents, Walmart’s basket calculation |
| Meal for 10 | No comparable full-meal total established from these records | $35 at Walmart; under $39 at ALDI |
Using those turkey prices, a hypothetical 16-pound bird would cost $8.80 at the historical expected rate, compared with $15.52 at Walmart’s advertised 2026 rate. That is roughly a 76% increase in the dollar price across a century. Three pounds of sweet potatoes would rise from 9 to 12 cents to $2.64.
Those calculations are illustrations, not an inflation-adjusted affordability study. Differences in wages, purchasing power, product preparation and promotional pricing prevent the numbers alone from establishing which generation had an easier time paying for dinner.
There is also an important distinction between a store promotion and the average American grocery bill. As of November 10, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 Thanksgiving survey had not been released. Its 2025 survey priced a traditional meal for 10 at $55.18. That is a previous-year benchmark, not a 2026 estimate.
For local shoppers, the practical lesson is familiar: compare the same quantities, check which ingredients are included and price the recipes your family actually plans to serve. Advertised baskets can leave additional pantry ingredients, drinks, extra desserts or service fees outside the headline total, and availability can vary.
A hundred years separates the penny-priced produce of 1926 from today’s holiday promotions. The grocery bill has changed, but the purpose behind it remains familiar: making room around the table for family, friends and a meal shared in thanksgiving.
