Turkey is a staple on so many Christmas Day tables across Belize. But, the truth is many just can't afford that beloved Christmas bird. Even though the price of turkey hasn't gone up - everything else has, especially ham. So how are shoppers handling Christmas spending on turkey in tight times? We went to two leading producers to find out. Jaleeza Roberts has the story:
We are just 6 days away from the Christmas festivities and no table would be complete without Ham, Turkey and all the fixings. But the popular turkey does not come without a pretty penny. Today we spoke with two of the country's major turkey producers: Quality Poultry and Caribbean Chicken to get a feel for the turkey temperature.
Quality Poultry's Belize City Branch Manager expressed that despite inflation, the company has kept the prices the same over the past 3 years.
Andre Salgado, Belize City Branch Manager, Quality Poultry
"We haven't increased the price for any turkey products, well for the whole turkeys over the past couple years so it's the same as it was last year, it is this year and the year before that as well. Turkey products have remained constant throughout the years despite you know the cost of different stuff going up. We at Quality decided we will keep the prices the same just so we can ensure our customers enjoy a merry Christmas with quality."
Nevertheless the Christmas rush is not as it used to be, which might just be a sign of the times.
Andre Salgado, Belize City Branch Manager, Quality Poultry
"Actually, not as yet, I know that tomorrow will be our busy day, we have seen flows of customers throughout the country and we have seen them coming in but it's not as the flows that we are used to, the rush that we are used to as yet."
At Caribbean Chicken, what customers have been taking most advantage of is turkey parts rather than the whole bird:
Hailey Foster, Cashier, Caribbean Chicken
"I do see people taking advantage especially of turkey neck and turkey wing, as soon as we get stock those finish immediately."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"And as a cashier what size do you see persons rushing towards buying when it comes to the turkey?"
Hailey Foster, Cashier, Caribbean Chicken
"Oooh when it comes to size, I see a lot of people rushing towards the smaller sizes like between an 8 to 10 pound turkey, and then when it comes to people who do sell food and have their food businesses they do come and buy the 20 to 22 or the turkeys that are over 25 pounds."
But of course the chicken purchases are increasing as Belizeans are not all fortunate enough to be able to afford a turkey. Nevertheless they are insistent on having a grand meal.
Hailey Foster, Cashier, Caribbean Chicken
"I do see people buying their large chickens a lot. People be taking like a good three chickens in their bags, stuffing them into their bag and taking them home because they don't eat turkey."
So whether turkey or chicken, part or whole, birds are what's for dinner on Christmas Day. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Turkey parts can be found for as low as 7.78 per pound - while whole birds are sold for less than five dollars per pound.
