Let’s talk turkey! Did you know that only six states are responsible for the more than five billion pounds of turkey that Americans consume every year? So, forty-four states are getting their birds— mostly from the midwest— trucked in from farm to table. Thanksgiving turkeys often travel hundreds to thousands of miles by truck to families all around the United States. When it comes to crossing the road turkeys have got it on chickens all day long!
And it isn’t just turkeys: Truck drivers transport an astonishing ninety percent of the food that Americans eat every year, along with the majority of medical supplies to hospitals. During the holidays, they support keeping food on the table in all kinds of winter weather conditions. As we celebrate over a turkey that trucks from Minnesota to Maine, we are grateful for the drivers that helped make our celebration of Thanksgiving possible.
Truck to Table, Fun Facts that Talk Turkey
Minnesota
Minnesota talks turkey as the United States’ leading contributor to a national average of 7.4 billion pounds of birds per year. It also travels an average of 1,500 miles. Roughly the same distance as Salt Lake City, Ut. To Detroit, Mi. That’s a lot of Thanksgiving naps.
Washington
If you’re sweet on cranberry sauce, you have Washington to thank for helping to produce close to a billion pounds of US cranberries a year. That’s berry impressive.
Idaho
As “spec-taters” watch the game today with their mashed potatoes, remember Idaho’s yearly contribution of enough potatoes to fill 500 NFL stadiums. On average they travel 1,239 miles, which is roughly the distance from Lincoln, Ne. to Hartford Ct.. That’s something to root for.
Texas
Texas is sailing the gravy boat with more than 13 million heads of cattle. That’s more cows than the populations of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles combined.
California
California is the nation’s carrot king; it produces more than 85 percent of the nation’s carrots. On average they travel 1,774 miles. Roughly the same distance from Milwaukee, Wi, to Five Points, Ca..
Michigan
Michigan spears the United States’ top asparagus producer, where its Oceana County is the self-proclaimed Asparagus Capital of the World.
Washington
As the beginning of a beautiful tradition, the Pilgrims actually planted the very first apple trees in the United States in Massachusetts. On average apples travel 1,555 miles. Roughly the same distance from Olympia, Wa. to Big Lake, Tx.. We “seed” the floor to that achievement.
Illinois
Illinois has the biggest slice of pie with a whopping 95 percent of the nation’s canned pumpkin. Now that’s not too crusty.
Iowa
Corn is another first Thanksgiving food, and it was so valuable during the colonial days that it was used as a form of currency. On average corn travels 813 miles, which is roughly the same distance from Bismarck, Nd. to Des Moines, Ia. Not to be too corny, but that’s quite a kernel of truth.