For many folks, Thanksgiving is a time of deeply held family traditions. They have their favorite foods with very particular recipes that have to be followed to the letter. Then there are the plates, table settings, who prepares what dishes, and even who gets the honor of carving the turkey. And, let’s not even start on how to prepare the big bird!

But, could climate change be changing all of that? Could it be making, or on the verge of making, that centerpiece dish harder to nearly impossible to find? Could it be the reason the price of the annual feast is still more expensive than before the pandemic? The Farm Bureau notes here offsite link that the average price for a 16-pound turkey is down 6% from last year, but still 23% higher than pre-pandemic.

The answer to those questions is, “Maybe!”. We can see some of it starting to happen by looking at a few Thanksgiving staples like cranberries, sweet potatoes, and the turkey. We already touched on pumpkins in our Halloween article.

Cranberries

Whether or not you like them fresh, in juice, or in jelly form shaped like a can, the cranberry is being hit by climate change on a few different fronts. Research from The University of Maine’s COOP Extension office back in 2016 offsite link suggested warmer and earlier springs were leading to earlier bud maturity, making plants more susceptible to normal, seasonal frost events. Then, surviving plants were subjected to warmer and prolonged summers, and something called “Berry Scalding” which reduces the fruit’s quality and leads to fruit rot.

These conditions are also less favorable to helpful insects like honeybees, which pollinate the plants but are more favorable for harmful insects such as the false armyworm and cranberry weevil that cause further fruit damage, reduce yields, and require pesticides to manage.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes come candied, mashed, covered in marshmallows, and even in pie form. Some people absolutely love them. Some people can’t stand them. But, sweet potatoes are often found on the Thanksgiving table.

No matter your stance on the orange tuber it’s probably not going anywhere any time soon. 

You see, it’s not all negative for all crops. Some are proving to be a little more climate change resilient and the sweet potato is one. Dr. Joyce Maru is the Director of the Global Sweet  Agri-food Systems Program, the International Potato Center, and in this article offsite link, she discusses how this plant can be a key player in domestic and international food security in a world where climate change is putting other crops at significant risk.

Turkey

Turkey is often the centerpiece of the feast, whether you are a deep fryer, a slow roaster, or a turducken person.

Sadly, however, climate change is having a major impact on the beloved bird. Wild turkey populations are struggling across the country. According to The Wildlife Society offsite link, wild turkey populations fell by about 18% between 2014 and 2019 and some southern states have already begun making changes to hunting practices. 

Farm-raised turkeys have taken a hit as well. There are a lot of factors, such as fluctuations in feed prices due to crop success/failure or excessive heat impacting turkey growth, that play into this and one or more of them can come into play each year. No matter how you slice it (pun intended), climate change has an impact on Tom Turkey from numerous angles.

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Putting all on the table

The shifting climate is making its presence known at the Thanksgiving table. From cranberries and sweet potatoes to the turkey itself, climate change is reshaping the foods we rely on, both in terms of availability and price.  As we gather around the table this holiday season, we may find that some of the traditions we hold dear are starting to evolve.

In the face of these changes, the question isn’t just what’s for dinner, but how we can adapt to a future where our seasonal favorites may not come as easily—or as affordably—as they once did. But for now, let’s give thanks that, despite the challenges, many of our cherished Thanksgiving dishes are still here to stay, at least for a little while longer.