Hoosiers Getting Ready For Easter Dinner Despite Some Higher Prices

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(UNDATED) - Hoosiers are preparing to fix their traditional Easter meal this weekend.

Throughout most of the world the main course for Easter is roast lamb, which dates even further back to the first Passover of the Jewish people. But in the United States, the main course for an Easter dinner is ham.

That tradition began prior to the advent of refrigeration when fresh pork was cured during the winter months.

Hams would usually be the first to complete the process and were ready to eat around Easter time. Although not as elaborate as a Thanksgiving feast, the cost of preparing a traditional Easter dinner has gotten more expensive.

Corrine Alexander with Purdue University's Ag Economics Department says boneless ham prices are up 13% over last year. That's a relatively modest increase compared to staples like white potatoes and rice which are up 25% and 34% respectively.

But there are a couple of traditional Easter foods that actually cost less now: egg prices are substantially lower than last year and sweet potatoes (yams) are plentiful which keeps the price down.

Alexander says overall, food costs are increasing at an annual rate of three to five percent.

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