In the fall
of 1621, the Pilgrims, early settlers of Plymouth Colony, held a three-day feast
to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first
Thanksgiving. Historians have also recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups
of European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Virginia
in 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the
event 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.
250 million
The
preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2009. That’s
down 8 percent from the number raised during 2008. The turkeys produced in 2008
together weighed 7.9 billion pounds and were valued at $4.5 billion.
Source:
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>
Weighing
in With a Menu of Culinary Delights
45.5 million
The
preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota expected to raise in 2009. The Gopher
State was tops in turkey production, followed by North Carolina (37.5 million),
Arkansas (28 million), Missouri (21 million), Virginia (16.4 million) and California
(15 million). These six states together would probably account for about two-thirds
of U.S. turkeys produced in 2009.
709 million pounds
The
forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2009. Wisconsin is expected to lead
all states in the production of cranberries, with 400 million pounds, followed
by Massachusetts (190 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected
to have substantial production, ranging from 16 million to 54 million pounds.
1.8
billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular
Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states
in 2008. North Carolina (874 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than
any other state. It was followed by California (437 million pounds) and Mississippi
(335 million pounds).
1.1 billion pounds
Total
production of pumpkins produced in the major pumpkin-producing states in 2008.
Illinois led the country by producing 496 million pounds of the vined orange gourd.
Pumpkin patches in California, Pennsylvania and New York also provided lots of
pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all pumpkins
produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $141 million.
If
you prefer cherry pie, you will be pleased to learn that the nation’s forecasted
tart cherry production for 2009 totals 284 million pounds. Of this total, the
overwhelming majority (220 million) will be produced in Michigan.
2.2
billion bushels
The total volume of wheat — the essential ingredient
of bread, rolls and pie crust — produced in the United States in 2009. North
Dakota and Kansas accounted for 34 percent of the nation’s wheat production.
794,777
tons
The 2008 contracted production of snap (green) beans in major snap
(green) bean-producing states. Of this total, Wisconsin led all states (320,200
tons). Many Americans consider green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving
dish.
Source: The previous data came from the USDA National
Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>.
$9.2
million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through
July of 2009 — 99.3 percent from Canada. When it comes to sweet potatoes,
however, the Dominican Republic was the source of 60.7 percent ($2.8 million)
of total imports ($4.7 million). The United States ran a $5.8 million trade deficit
in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $23.1 million in sweet
potatoes.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www>
13.8
pounds
The quantity of turkey consumed by the typical American in 2007,
with a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato consumption
was 5.2 pounds.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Tables
212-213 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.
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>
$3.8
billion
Forecast 2009 receipts to farmers from turkey sales. This exceeds
the total receipts from sales of products such as barley, oats and sorghum (combined)
and peanuts.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service <http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/farmincome/finfidmu.htm>
The
Price is Right
$1.33
Retail cost per pound
of a frozen whole turkey in December 2008.
Source: Statistical Abstract of
the United States: 2010, Table 717 <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 2008, with 456 residents, followed by Turkey Creek, La.
(361) and Turkey, N.C. (272). There are also nine townships around the country
named Turkey, three in Kansas.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013960.html>
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
<http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/cities.html>
5
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 2008, with 27,194 residents. Cranberry township (Venango
County), Pa., was next (6,795).
Source: Population estimates <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013960.html>
<http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/cities.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 71,486
residents in 2008; Plymouth, Mass., had 55,705. There is just one township in
the United States named “Pilgrim.” Located in Dade County, Mo., its
population was 128 in 2008. And then there is Mayflower, Ark., whose population
was 2,231 in 2008.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013960.html>
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
<http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/cities.html>
117
million
Number of households across the nation — all potential gathering
places for people to celebrate the holiday.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements:
2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
Editor’s
note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject
to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily
released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine
production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s
Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail:
<pio@census.gov>.
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