Turkeys steal the show on Thanksgiving tables across the country each fall, but how much do you know about the iconic American bird?
Brush up on your knowledge of North Carolina’s turkey industry with these fascinating North Carolina turkey facts:
North Carolina ranks No. 2 in the nation for turkey production and No. 3 for total poultry production.
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In 2022, the state raised 28 million head of turkey.
The state’s turkey sector was valued at $1.1 billion in 2022.
In 2022, North Carolina produced more than 1.03 billion pounds of turkey meat, the most in the nation.
Sampson County leads the state in turkey production, followed by Wayne and Union counties.
The average American consumes 15.3 pounds of turkey per year.
The United States is the world’s largest turkey producer and the No. 1 exporter of turkey products.
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Male turkeys are called toms, female turkeys are called hens and baby turkeys are called poults.
The USDA estimates that more than 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.
Sources: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA Economic Research Service, National Turkey Federation, North Carolina Poultry Federation
