Let’s talk about the Thanksgiving meal, include some facts about Thanksgiving and examine reasons to be thankful. First of all, according to the USDA, about $670 million is the monetary value of turkeys consumed for Thanksgiving every year which is based on an estimated 46 million turkeys and 92 cent-per-pound. On average, it costs about $50 for a 10-person Thanksgiving meal. Included in the $50 meal is the turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and beverages of coffee and milk (Source: American Farm Bureau). You can thank our American farmers and ranchers who are able to provide us the bounty of safe and affordable food we are able to consume.
Now let’s talk trivia:
Q: Why are turkeys raised? A: Because of their excellent quality of meat and eggs
Q: What is a male turkey called? A: Tom
Q: What is a female turkey called? A: A Hen
Q: What sound do turkeys make? A: Only tom turkeys gobble; the female makes a clucking sound.
Q: How many feathers does a turkey have at maturity? A: 3,500 feathers
Q: How long does it take a turkey to reach market size? A: Hens usually grow for 16 weeks and is 8-16 lbs. when processed while tom usually takes 19 weeks to reach market weight and weighs 24 lbs. Large toms (24-40 lbs. are a few weeks older.
Regardless of what you do this Thanksgiving, remember to be thankful for what really matters.
Views from VanDeWalle 