Thanksgiving by
the Numbers
From the U.S. Census Bureau
by U.S. Census Bureau
271 million
The preliminary estimate
of turkeys raised in the United States in 2008. That’s not
statistically signficantly different from the number raised during 2007. The
turkeys produced in 2007 together weighed 7.9 billion pounds and were valued
at $3.7 billion.
Weighing in With a Menu of Culinary Delights
49 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys
Minnesota expects to raise in 2008. The Gopher State is tops in turkey
production. It is followed by North Carolina (39 million), Arkansas (31
million), Virginia (21 million), Missouri (20 million), and Indiana (15.9
million). These six states together will probably account for about
two-thirds of U.S. turkeys produced in 2008.
689 million
pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2008, up
5 percent from 2007 and slightly below 2006. Wisconsin is expected to lead
all states in the production of cranberries, with 385 million pounds,
followed by Massachusetts (190 million). New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington
are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 15 million to
50 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 2007. North
Carolina (667 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other
state. It was followed by California (426 million pounds). Mississippi and
Louisiana also produced large amounts: at least 300 million pounds each.
1.1 billion pounds
Total production of major
pumpkin-producing states in 2007. Illinois led the country by producing 542
million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in Ohio,
California, 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 $117 million.
If you prefer cherry pie,
you will be pleased to learn that the nation’s forecasted tart cherry
production for 2008 totals 177 million pounds. Of this total, the
overwhelming majority (135 million) will be produced in Michigan.
2.1 billion bushels
The total volume of
wheat—the essential ingredient of bread, rolls and pie
crust—produced in the United States in 2007. Kansas and North Dakota
accounted for 28 percent of the nation’s wheat production.
769,760 tons
The 2008 contracted production of
snap (green) beans in major snap (green) bean-producing states. Of this
total, Wisconsin led all states (293,200 tons). Many Americans consider
green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving dish.
$9.2
million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from
January through July of 2008—99.3 percent from Canada. Our northern
neighbor accounted for all of the cranberries the United States imported
($2.1 million). When it comes to sweet potatoes, however, the Dominican
Republic was the source of 86.3 percent ($3.8 million) of total imports
($4.4 million). The United States ran a $4.9 million trade deficit in live
turkeys during the period but had surpluses of $15.0 million in cranberries
and $22.3 million in sweet potatoes.
13.3
pounds
The quantity of turkeys consumed by the typical
American in 2006, with a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per
capita sweet potato consumption was 4.6 pounds.
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.
$4.3
billion
Forecast 2008 receipts to farmers from turkey sales.
This exceeds the total receipts from sales of products such as rice and
peanuts.
The Price is Right
$1.01
Retail cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2007.
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 2007, with 465 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.
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 2007, with 27,126 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County),
Pa., was next (6,810).
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 71,057
residents in 2007; Plymouth, Mass., had 55,188. There is just one township
in the United States named “Pilgrim.” Located in Dade County,
Mo., its population was 130. And then there is Mayflower, Ark., whose
population was 2,134.
116 million
Number of
households across the nation—all potential gathering places for people
to celebrate the holiday.
Fact Monster™ Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
