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Features for Senior Citizens
Facts About Thanksgiving Day in 2006: U.S. Census
Bureau
November 23, 2006 - What many regard as the
nation’s first Thanksgiving took place in December 1621 as the religious
separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful
harvest. 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.
265 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2006.
That’s up 3 percent from 2005. The turkeys produced in 2005 together
weighed 7.2 billion pounds and were valued at $3.2 billion. (Source:
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
Weighing in With a Menu
of Culinary Delights
45 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota expects to raise in 2006.
The Gopher State is tops in turkey production. It is followed by North
Carolina (37 million), Arkansas (30 million), Virginia (22.5 million),
Missouri (21.5 million) and California (16 million). These six states
together will probably account for about 65 percent of U.S. turkeys
produced in 2006. (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
664 million pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2006, up 6 percent from
2005. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of
cranberries, with 375 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (175
million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have
substantial production, ranging from 16 million to 49 million pounds.
(Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
1.6 billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side
dish — produced in the United States in 2005. North Carolina (595
million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. It
was followed by California (351 million pounds). Mississippi and
Louisiana also produced large amounts: at least 200 million pounds each.
(Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
1.1 billion pounds
Total production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2005. Illinois led
the country by producing 497 million pounds of the vined orange gourd.
Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio and Pennsylvania also provided lots
of pumpkins: each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value
of all the pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $106
million. <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>
If you prefer cherry pie, you will be
pleased to learn that the nation’s forecasted tart cherry production for
2006 totals 256 million pounds. Of this total, the overwhelming majority
(185 million) will be produced in Michigan. <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
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 — combined — accounted for 30 percent of the nation’s wheat
production. (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
768,000 tons
The 2006 contracted production of snap (green) beans for processing. Of
this total, Wisconsin led all states (305,000 tons). Many Americans
consider green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving dish. (Source:
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
3 million tons
The 2006 contracted production of sweet corn for processing. Minnesota,
with 924,000 tons, led the nation. (Source: USDA National Agricultural
Statistics Service at <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>)
$5.7 million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys during the first half of 2006
— 96 percent from Canada. Our northern neighbor accounted for all of the
cranberries the United States imported ($1.3 million). When it comes to
sweet potatoes, however, the Dominican Republic was the source of 86
percent ($2.5 million) of total imports ($3 million). The United States
ran a $900,000 trade deficit in live turkeys over the period, but
surpluses of $4.9 million in cranberries and $16.5 million in sweet
potatoes. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
13.4 pounds
The quantity of turkey consumed by the typical American in 2004 with a
hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato
consumption was 4.7 pounds. (Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of
the United States: 2007.)
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 ($453.0 million). Businesses that primarily processed
turkeys operated out of 35 establishments, employing about 17,000
people. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i311615.pdf>
The Price is Right
$1.07
Cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2005. (Source:
Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 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 2005,
with 492 residents; followed by Turkey Creek, La. (357); and Turkey,
N.C. (269). There also are nine townships around the country named
“Turkey,” three in Kansas. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007001.html>
and <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 name we call the red,
acidic berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular side dish at
Thanksgiving. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
28
Number of places in the United States named Plymouth, as in “Plymouth
Rock,” legendary location of the first Thanksgiving. Plymouth, Minn., is
the most populous, with 69,701 residents in 2005; Plymouth, Mass., had
54,923. Speaking of Plymouth Rock, there is just one township in the
United States named “Pilgrim.” Located in Dade County, Mo., its
population was 135. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007001.html>
and <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
108 million
Number of occupied housing units across the nation — all potential
gathering places for people to celebrate the holiday. <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/historic/histt15.html>
>> Provided by U.S. Census
Bureau
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