Nov. 22,
2007
In the fall of 1621, the religious separatist
Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many
regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. It eventually became a national
holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of
November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt
clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday
of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth
Thursday.
272 million
The preliminary estimate
of turkeys raised in the United States in 2007. That’s up 4 percent from
2006. The turkeys produced in 2005 together weighed 7.2 billion pounds and were
valued at $3.2 billion.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
<http://www.nass.usda.gov/>
Weighing
in With a Menu of Culinary Delights
46 million
The
preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota expects to raise in 2007. The Gopher
State is tops in turkey production. It is followed by North Carolina (39 million),
Arkansas (31 million), Virginia (21.5 million), Missouri (21 million) and California
(16.8 million). These six states together will probably account for about two-thirds
of U.S. turkeys produced in 2007.
690 million pounds
The
forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2007, essentially unchanged from 2006
and 11 percent more than 2005. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the
production of cranberries, with 390 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts
(180 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial
production, ranging from 18 million to 52 million pounds.
1.6
billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular
Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states
in 2006. North Carolina (702 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than
any other state. It was followed by California (381 million pounds). Mississippi
and Louisiana also produced large amounts: at least 200 million pounds each.
1
billion pounds
Total pumpkin production of major pumpkin-producing states
in 2006. Illinois led the country by producing 492 million pounds of the vined
orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio and Pennsylvania also provided
plenty of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value
of all the pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $101 million.
If you prefer cherry pie, you will be pleased to learn
that the nation’s forecasted tart cherry production for 2007 totals 294 million
pounds. Of this total, the overwhelming majority (230 million) will be produced
in Michigan.
1.8 billion bushels
The total volume
of wheat — the essential ingredient of bread, rolls and pie crust —
produced in the United States in 2006. Kansas and North Dakota accounted for 30
percent of the nation’s wheat production.
841,280
tons
The 2007 contracted production of snap (green) beans in major snap
(green) bean-producing states. Of this total, Wisconsin led all states (310,200
tons). Many Americans consider green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving
dish.
Source: The previous data come from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics
Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>.
$9.5
million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys during the first half
of 2007 — 99.5 percent from Canada. Our northern neighbor accounted for all
of the cranberries the United States imported ($2.2 million). When it comes to
sweet potatoes, however, the Dominican Republic was the source of 63 percent ($1.7
million) of total imports ($2.7 million). The United States ran a $4.9 million
trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had surpluses of $9.4 million
in cranberries and $15.3 million in sweet potatoes.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
<http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www>
13.1
pounds
The quantity of turkeys consumed by the typical American in 2005,
with a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato consumption
was 4.5 pounds.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States:
2008, Tables 205-206 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
An
Organic Feast
144,086
Number of certified
organic turkeys on the nation’s farmland, as of 2005. Most of these turkeys
were in Michigan (56,729) or Pennsylvania (48,815).
Source: USDA Economic Research
Service <http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/organic/>
The
Turkey Industry
$3.6 billion
The value of
turkeys shipped in 2002. Arkansas led the way in turkey shipments, with $581.5
million, followed by Virginia ($544.2 million) and North Carolina ($453 million).
In 2002, poultry businesses whose primary product was turkey totaled 35 establishments,
employing about 17,000 people.
Source: Poultry Processing: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i311615.pdf>
$3.86
billion
Forecast 2007 receipts to farmers from turkey sales. This exceeds
the total receipts from sales of products such as rice, peanuts and tobacco.
Source:
USDA Economic Research Service <http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/farmincome/finfidmu.htm>
The
Price is Right
99 cents
Cost per pound of
a frozen whole turkey in December 2006.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract
of the United States: 2008, Table 709 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
Where
to Feast
3
Number of places in the United
States named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey, Texas,
was the most populous in 2006, with 489 residents; followed by Turkey Creek, La.
(363); and Turkey, N.C. (270). There also are nine townships around the country
named Turkey, three in Kansas.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010315.html>,
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
8
Number
of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some
spelling variation of the red, acidic berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular
side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry township (Butler County), Pa., was the most
populous of these places in 2006, with 27,509 residents. Cranberry township (Venango
County), Pa., was next (6,900).
Source: Population estimates <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010315.html>.
28
Number
of places in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing
site of the first Pilgrims. Plymouth, Minn., is the most populous, with 70,102
residents in 2006; Plymouth, Mass., had 55,516. Speaking of Plymouth Rock, there
is just one township in the United States named “Pilgrim.” Located in
Dade County, Mo., its population was 135.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010315.html>,
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
114.4
million
Number of households across the nation — all potential gathering
places for people to celebrate the holiday.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements:
2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>
