The turkey production landscape in the United States is undergoing a remarkable upswing, as reported by the USDA, with the national value of turkey production soaring by 87% from 2018 to the previous year, reaching an impressive $7.10 billion. Notably, about two-thirds of this surge is attributed to the creation of ready-to-eat turkey products.
In a delightful twist, two turkeys named Chocolate and Chip, who narrowly avoided becoming part of the industry statistics, are slated to receive a presidential pardon on November 21 as part of the annual ritual. Raised on a family farm in North Carolina and currently enjoying the luxurious accommodations at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, these turkeys will return to their home state after the ceremony, continuing a tradition that has been in place since 1947.
Minnesota emerges as the leading state in turkey production, contributing a substantial 37 million birds out of the country’s total of 210 million last year. North Carolina follows as a distant second with 28 million birds, closely trailed by Arkansas, which produced 26 million birds.
Additionally, the data reveals that out of the 3.1 billion pounds of turkey exported annually, nearly two-thirds find their way to Mexico, according to information compiled by the National Turkey Federation. This underscores the significant role of international trade in shaping the dynamics of the thriving turkey industry.
