As friends and family sit down for a Thanksgiving dinner, very few are aware that the feast on their table is a culmination of efforts of farmers from every corner of the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists recently analyzed the production of the ingredients that go into a classic Thanksgiving dinner, detailing which states produce the most commodities and the production value of those items. The Market Intel report provides context to AFBF’s annual Thanksgiving dinner cost survey, which found the average cost of this year’s classic holiday dinner for 10 is $58.08, or about $5.80 per person.

“To give a sense of the geographic diversity involved in producing your meal, we ranked the top three production states for nine Thanksgiving dinner staples: cranberries, celery, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkins, green peas, potatoes, carrots and turkey,” the Market Intel stated. “A total of 15 different states appeared at least once in these rankings, representing every region of the country. From Massachusetts to California, Wisconsin to Mississippi – farmers across the nation work hard all year to grow the food we gather around and give thanks for on Thanksgiving.”

Farming is a difficult industry with tight profit margins. Rising labor costs impact many of the products, as does inflation in other inputs such as machinery, fertilizer and pest protection products. Despite these increasing costs of farming, this is the second year in a row that the Thanksgiving Dinner is estimated to have declined in price.

“It really is awe-inspiring that America’s farmers are able to grow such a diverse range of foo,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Each item on the Thanksgiving dinner table represents a different farmer from across the nation, each dedicated to ensuring America’s food supply remains strong.”

Duvall emphasized the need for strong farm bill programs that provide much needed certainty to farmers. Unfortunately, he said the “critically-important” legislation remains in limbo. “We urge lawmakers to pass a modernized farm bill with safety nets to support the men and women who grow the food every family in America relies on.”