WASHINGTON, D.C. — The cost of America’s favorite holiday feast – the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings – increased to 13 percent this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)’s 26th annual Thanksgiving Dinner Survey.

“Turkey prices are higher this year primarily due to strong consumer demand both here in the U.S. and globally,” said John Anderson, an AFBF senior economist, adding “the era of grocers holding the line on retail food cost increases is basically over.

“Retailers are being more aggressive about passing on higher costs for shipping, processing and storing food to consumers, although turkeys may still be featured in special sales and promotions close to Thanksgiving.”

First conducted in 1986, the AFBF’s yearly informal price survey gauges price trends around the United States, with calculated menu items that have remained unchanged for the past 25 years to allow for consistent price comparisons. This year, a total of 141 volunteer shoppers from 35 states participated in the 2011 survey.

The survey, which centers on the holiday season’s leading fowl, included the classic items of bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and coffee and milk, while also accounting for leftovers – all in quantities sufficient for a family of 10.

While the average price tag for the same holiday spread in 1986 was $28.74, the average cost of this year’s feast totaled $49.20, also a $5.73 price increase from last year’s average of $43.47, the survey found.

“In general, we’ve seen food prices increasing for most of this year,” Anderson said, “and I think it’s important to recognize that our survey is really kind of picking up on a trend that’s been in place across a broad set of food items since about late 2010.”

But the largest price increase over last year was the actual bird itself: A 16-pound turkey was $21.57, roughly $1.35 per pound, an increase of about 25 cents per pound or a total of $3.91 per whole turkey compared to 2010, the survey indicated.

“Although we’ll pay a bit more this year, on a per-person basis, our traditional Thanksgiving feast remains a better value than most fast-food value meals, plus it’s a wholesome, home-cooked meal,” Anderson said.

The survey had also shown a gallon of whole milk increased in price by 42 cents, to $3.66. Other items showing a price increase from 2010 were: a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, $3.03, up 41 cents; two 9-inch pie shells, $2.52, up 6 cents; and a half-pint of whipping cream, $1.96, up 26 cents.

In addition, one pound of green peas, at $1.68, was up 24 cents; a 14-ounce package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.88, up 24 cents; a dozen brown-n-serve rolls, $2.30, up 18 cents; three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.26, up 7 cents; and fresh cranberries, $2.48, up 7 cents.

Conversely, a one-pound relish tray of carrots and celery declined by a penny, to 76 cents, while coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (such as onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter) decreased in price, to $3.10.

“The dairy-related items were up pretty much across the board; whipping cream, milk,” Anderson said. “Those items reflect the trend that we’ve seen for most of this year, of better prices for dairy products.

“When we think about the turkey and the dairy products together, the explanation for those higher prices is mostly on the demand side. Demand for U.S. dairy products has been strong throughout the year and continues to influence retail prices, as demand for higher quality food products grows globally.”

Although retail price increased during the past year, Anderson said American consumers have enjoyed relatively stable food costs over the years, particularly when adjusted for inflation. According to the survey, the 13 percent increase in the national average cost is higher, but still tracks closely with the AFBF’s 2011 quarterly market-basket food surveys and the federal government’s Consumer Price Index for food.

During the survey period, the AFBF’s volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey. One viable option for busy families, the survey indicated, is to purchase ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50-$75.

Overall, said AFBF President Bob Stallman, a Texas rice and cattle producer, the cost of this year’s top festive meal still remains a bargain, at just under $5 per person. “The quality and variety of food produced for our dinner tables on America’s diverse farms and ranches set us apart from our contemporaries around the world,” he said.

“It is an honor for our farm and ranch families to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations.”