Thanksgiving Facts to Digest
Here are some Thanksgiving facts to chew on as you recover from the holidays – like how many pounds of cranberries Missouri produces, how many turkeys are raised in the state, and how many pounds of turkey the average American eats.
(Hint: Mr. Turkey, be afraid. Be very afraid.)
● 21.5
million
Preliminary estimate of number of turkeys raised in Missouri in
2006, up 4.9
percent from 2005.
●
Fifth
Rank of Missouri
gobbler production among all states in 2006 (estimated).
|
Top Ten States in Turkeys Raised, 2006 Est.
|
|
| State | Number (thousands) |
| Minnesota | 45,000 |
| North Carolina | 37,000 |
| Arkansas | 30,000 |
| Virginia | 22,500 |
| Missouri | 21,500 |
| California | 16,000 |
| Indiana | 13,800 |
| South Carolina | 11,000 |
| Iowa | 10,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 10,000 |
● 13.4 pounds
Quantity of turkey devoured by the typical American in 2004,
a hearty portion of
which was consumed at Thanksgiving.
● Zero
Pounds of cranberries commercially produced in Missouri. Missouri is
warmer than
the typical cranberry prefers -- the tart fruit is grown in
Massachusetts, New
Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin (the state leader,
at 375 million
pounds.) Your next relish could be made of pears, apples,
grapes, raspberries,
strawberries and of course walnuts, all of which thrive in
Missouri.
●
1,697
Total acres of pumpkins harvested for sale in Missouri, 2002
●
Scott County
Missouri's pumpkin king, at 224 acres harvested. Boone County was next, with
188 acres, then St. Louis, 70 acres, Chariton, 64 acres and
Warren, 54 acres.
●
49.1 million bushels
Preliminary estimate of total wheat production -- the essential
ingredient in
bread, rolls and pie crust -- produced in Missouri in 2006.
● Twelfth
Rank of Missouri in wheat production in 2006,
estimate. Leaders Kansas and North
Dakota will account for almost 30 percent of U.S.' wheat
production.
|
Top 15 States in Wheat Production, 2006 Est.
|
|
| State | Bushels (thousands) |
| Kansas | 291,200 |
| North Dakota | 251,770 |
| Montana | 153,075 |
| Washington | 140,050 |
| Idaho | 90,315 |
| South Dakota | 84,090 |
| Oklahoma | 81,600 |
| Minnesota | 80,340 |
| Ohio | 65,280 |
| Nebraska | 61,200 |
| Illinois | 60,970 |
| Missouri | 49,140 |
| Michigan | 47,450 |
| Oregon | 44,440 |
| Colorado | 41,515 |
●
Green beans, for casserole
Please. There are some things even MERIC won't touch.
● Best
Thanksgiving place name
Pilgrim, Dade County, Missouri -- population 28 in 2000.
