The latest report from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service provides insights into the national turkey market, specifically covering the week from October 12 to October 16, 2026. This report offers crucial information on pricing and market trends regarding whole turkeys and turkey parts, highlighting key data necessary for producers, retailers, and consumers interested in turkey products.
Overview of Turkey Pricing
In the whole-bird segment, the report provides detailed pricing information. It outlines the price ranges and weighted averages for whole young hen basted turkeys weighing between 8 to 16 pounds, along with whole young tom basted turkeys weighing 16 to 24 pounds. Both categories meet U.S. Grade A specifications. The report also details pricing for various turkey parts, revealing a weighted average price of 186 cents per pound within one category, while another shows a price range between 180 to 195 cents, with an average of 187.50 cents per pound.
In the category of domestic fresh conventional turkey parts, a significant price increase was observed. The report indicates a weighted average price of 305 cents per pound for one category, which reflects a change of 19.62 cents and a trading volume of 40,000 pounds compared to a previous average of 285.38 cents. Various parts, including boneless and skinless tom breasts and mechanically separated products, also yielded diverse price averages.
Frozen Turkey Segment Insights
The section dedicated to domestic frozen conventional turkeys presents relevant pricing data as well. For tom drumsticks and mechanically separated products with 15 to 20 percent fat, the weighted averages are listed at 96.00 and 25.00 cents per pound, respectively. These figures show notable changes from the previous week, with prior averages being 90.47 and 340 cents per pound. This vital information allows businesses to understand pricing movements in frozen turkey products more clearly.
Moreover, the USDA report also highlights grocery feature activity, with a national activity index of 54,094, reflecting fluctuations in turkey advertising at grocery outlets. Compared to the previous week, this marks a decrease, though it is an increase from the same period last year. The grocery feature rate was 80.8 percent for the current week, significantly higher than the 68.9 percent recorded the preceding week, aided by advertising efforts in 25,521 stores.
Market Dynamics and Trends
Individual item data from grocery retailers reveals fluctuations in consumer interest as well. Whole turkeys weighing under 16 pounds were featured in 2,266 stores with a current-weighted average of 1.23, down from 2,513 stores the week prior. Additionally, whole turkeys over 16 pounds were also prominently featured in 2,266 stores, signifying a rise in visibility for these products.
The report indicates that ground turkey and deli items remain the top-featured products, suggesting a shift in consumer demand toward these categories. It provides an essential overview of market dynamics that can help businesses make data-driven decisions about inventory and promotions.
In summary, this report presents critical data regarding turkey pricing and market trends, offering valuable insights into consumer behavior and supply dynamics. By tracking these developments, stakeholders in the turkey industry can better navigate their strategies and enhance their market positioning as they approach the peak turkey season.