What's the price of Thanksgiving dinner

Slice the turkey, add a slab of ham and pile the whipped cream on a piece of pumpkin pie.

Toss a few veggies and dinner rolls on the side and the Thanksgiving feast you plan for family Thursday will cost, on average, one shiny copper penny more than one year ago.

According to the 34th annual American Farm Bureau Federation survey of Thanksgiving Day dinner prices, the cost of serving the holiday dinner for 10 averages $48.91.

The survey is based on average costs gathered by 250 volunteer shoppers who price check grocery stores in 38 states.

The meal includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes or mashed russets, a vegetable, cranberries and veggie tray. For dessert: pumpkin pie with real whipped cream.

Traditionally, the first celebration, in 1621, celebrated the Pilgrims' successful corn harvest.

Today, less than eight cents of every dollar spent on food trickles back to farmers.

So, a U.S. farmer earns, on average, about $6 per Thanksgiving dinner.

Why is price farmers earn low?

In most cases, it comes down to a matter of fresh ingredients versus convenient truth.

The survey calculates the cost of a 12-ounce package of fresh cranberries.

Many Americans choose to purchase a can of cranberry sauce or jell, which requires additional costs to manufacture.

John Newton, AFBR chief economist said, "Americans continue to enjoy the most affordable food supply in the world, but most don't realize only eight cents of every dollar consumers spend on food goes to farmers."

The cost of turkey dropped 4% from last year, with the average cost per pound ringing up at $1.30 per pound.