AFB Says Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost 13% More Than Last Year

The Arizona Farm Bureau says that the cost of your Thanksgiving meal will be 13% higher than it was last year.

This year’s turkey dinner with all the trimmings will cost $50.06 for an Arizona family of 10. Without factoring in store coupons or specials, the cost of a 16 pound turkey purchased in Arizona this year is $21.28, or $1.33 a pound. That’s an increase of 28 cents a pound. But this year’s meal is still $2.75 cheaper than it was three years ago when the total was $52.81.

The 2011 Thanksgiving meal cost estimate is the result of the Arizona Farm Bureau’s annual informal survey of the prices of basic food items found on the Thanksgiving dinner table.

This year the Farm Bureau also has an Organic Price Survey on the same food items. An Organic Thanksgiving dinner will cost more than twice the amount of the non-organic purchase of the same items.

For more information visit www.azfb.org.

Arizona Food Insecurity Rising

The United States Department of Agriculture says that more than 15% of Arizona households do not have consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living. That’s a 5% increase from the last report.

Public News Service says that Arizona food banks are seeing a lot of families who have lost their jobs and exhausted their savings as the recession continues.

Fortunately, donations to the state’s food banks are holding up well, in spite of the record demand for emergency food boxes.

More than 1600 Arizona households were polled for the annual USDA survey.

Arizona Among Worst States for Family Food Hardship

A new report from the Food Research and Action Center says that Arizona is among the lowest ranking states when it comes to families’ ability to put food on the table.

Public News Service reports that Arizona tied with Louisiana for seventh worst. 29% of Arizona families with children say they ran out of money to buy food at least once in the past year.

Arizona Communty Action Association program manager Katie Kahle says the number of Arizonans receiving SNAP benefits—formerly known as food stamps—is still rising, now at 1.1 million people.

Click here for the report.

Salmonella in Ground Turkey Linked to 1 Death, 77 Illnesses

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says that one person has died from salmonella found in ground turkey.

Earlier this week the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert after 77 illnesses were reported in 26 states from consumption of ground turkey products. Examiner.com reports that two cases have been reported in Arizona. The CDC is partnering with state health departments to keep track of the outbreak while looking for the source of the contamination.

The government has not yet issued a recall but is advising consumers to follow package cooking instructions and general food safety guidelines when handling and preparing any raw meat or poultry.

Book Signing and Cooking Demonstration

The Book Bank in Miami will have a book signing and desert foods cooking demonstration on Sunday (July 24) with authors Don Wells and Jean Groen. It’s at 3:pm.

The two authors have been writing books about local desert plants since 1997. Their latest book is “Cat’s Claw to Cow’s Tongue and Other Lesser Known Plants of the Sonoran Desert.”

If you plan to attend this cooking demonstration and book signing please RSVP to the Book Bank.

Arizona Food Prices Continue to Rise

The latest Arizona Farm Bureau Market Basket survey shows that Arizona retail food prices are up again. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items was $51.31 cents. That’s $3.46 more than the first quarter, about 7% higher. It’s up 5% compared to a year ago at this time.

Of the 16 items surveyed in Arizona, 11 increased in price, 4 decreased and one item remained the same compared to the first quarter survey.

Ground chuck showed the greatest decrease in price. It was down 24 cents. Shredded cheese showed the largest increase in price. It was up 62 cents to $4.99 a pound.

Blue Planet Film Fest Arizona

The First Annual Blue Planet Film Fest Arizona will be held next week in the Mill Avenue District in Tempe. The film lineup includes more than a dozen world and US premieres of environmental and animal welfare films.

The event includes fest-themed vendor booths and vegan gourmet snacks. And the admission price includes lunch and dinner gourmet vegan buffets, and post-screening audience interactive events.

Blue Planet Film Fest runs Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15.

Food Prices Expected to Rise

While gasoline prices continue to rise, it looks like higher food prices are going to be next.

The US Department of Agriculture predicts that retail food prices will rise 3.5% in the US this year. But the Arizona Republic reports that the recent jump in wholesale food prices could be a preview of much higher retail prices.

Arizona Food Marketing Alliance President Tim McCabe says he thinks Arizona food prices could increase between 5 and 6 percent this year. That could beat the 5.5% jump in 2008, the largest increase in almost 20 years.

Special Events Conclude Smithsonian Exhibit

The final weekend of the Smithsonian foods exhibit at the Gila County Historical Museum includes a “Cowboy and Apache Days” presentation.

Old time ranchers will tell stories about the early days around a “campfire.” Another group will demonstarte Dutch Oven cooking and make cobblers in Dutch Ovens over an open fire. This will be served to the public about mid-afternoon and topped with homemade ice cream.

To demonstrate the Apache part of the event, there will be a fry bread booth operated by San Carlos residents and an offering of Apache arts and crafts. Entertainment will be provided by the Apache Crown Dancers and a traditional Apache flute player.

The event starts at 1:pm Saturday and is free of charge.

'Tastes of Globe' Saturday From 1 to 4:PM

The "Tastes of Globe" event is Saturday from 1 to 4:pm at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The event is part of the Gila County Historical Museum’s “Foods of America” exhibit.

It’s free and will feature samples of foods from early-day Globe. This includes many of the area’s ethnic foods as well as favorites that were brought to the area by mining families—like pasties and cheese-boats.

Reading Council Workshop Today at Museum

Gila Reading Council is conducting an instructional workshop today about how to incorporate the Smithsonian Exhibit at the Gila County Historical Museum into classroom activities. The workshop is today (Tuesday) from 4:30 until 6:pm at the Historical Museum. There is no charge for this workshop and light refreshmnts will be served. For more information call 425-5985.

Smithsonian Food Exhibit Opens Friday

The special Smithsonian exhibit opens tomorrow (Friday) at the Gila County Historical Museum. The exhibit is about America’s diverse regional cooking and eating traditions.

Museum hours are 10:am to 4:pm Monday through Friday and 11 to 4 on Saturdays.

Grocery Prices Expected to Rise in 2011

The Arizona Farm Bureau says food prices in the state held steady in 2010 and were below the national average. But prices are expected to increase in 2011.

As oil prices approach $100 a barrel, costs for farmers and ranchers are increasing. That means higher grocery prices.

But the Farm Bureau says food retailers understand that prices have to stay reasonable because so many Arizona families are having hard times. Prices are expected to rise in 2011 but not skyrocket.

First Friday Presents Harvey House History

Tomorrow’s First Friday program is the first of three to be connected with the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, “Key Ingredients: America By Food.” The exhibit’s coordinator Ann-Mary Lutzick will give a visual presentation about 1870’s entrepreneur Fred Harvey who opened a series of eating houses along the Santa Fe Railway. They evolved into America’s first restaurant chain, the Harvey Houses.

The program starts at 6:00 at the Miami Library.

'Key Ingrediants' Food Exhibit at CVCA

Cobre Valley Center for the Arts is hosting an art exhibit called "Key Ingredients," focusing on foods from the local area. It is being presented in conjunction with the Smithsonian and the Gila County Historical Museum. The hours for the show are 10:am to 5:pm Monday through Friday and 10 to 4 on Saturdays.

There will be an Opening Reception for the exhibit on Saturday from 11 until 2 at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts.

Globe Senior Center Holiday Meal Campaign

Globe Senior Center has launched a Holiday Meal Campaign to make the season a little brighter for seniors who live alone and will be unable to spend the holidays with loved ones. They will receive a personal gift and a holiday meal.

The Senior Center has received a matching grant of $2,000 to double the contributions. Send your donation to the City of Globe Senior Center, 579 S. Broad Street. Print your name, complete address with zip code, and a phone number. A recceipt will be mailed to you.

4-H Canned Food Drive

The Southern Gila County 4-H Community Club is holding a canned food drive through December 10. All donated items will stay in the local area. Help 4-H help those in need by dropping off canned food at Central Arizona Wireless, Hicks Chiropractic and Heritage Healthcare Center.

Foods and Plants Demonstration

The Tonto Basin Ranger District presents a demonstration this weekend featuring “Foods of the Superstitions” and “Plants of the Sonoran Desert.”

Author Don Wells will talk about the specimens, where they are found, what they look like and the medicinal use of the plant, seed or fruit. Author Jean Groen will talk about old Native American recipes and the modern recipes she has developed using the products.

The event is from 10 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday at the Rossevelt Lake Visitor Center.

Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Up 9 Percent

The Arizona Farm Bureau says the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has risen 9% over last year. But it’s cheaper than it was two years ago. The average feast will cost about $44.

Without factoring in store coupons or specials, the cost of a 16 pound turkey will cost Arizonans around $16.80 this year, or $1.05 a pound. That’s a 7% increase in the cost of a turkey.

Food and Plant Demonstrations

The Tonto Ranger District will present a demonstration of “Foods of the Superstitions” and “Plants of the Sonoran Desert” on Saturday and Sunday, November 20 and 21. The presentations will be from 10:am until 4:pm at the Roosevelt Lake Visitor Center, hosted by authors Don Wells and Jean Groen.