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Turkey trivia: What are the top turkey-producing states?

Total U.S. turkey production was 244.8 million birds

November 25, 2019

2 Min Read

Getting ready to savor turkey and the trimmings on Thanksgiving? Here's some turkey trivia to share with those around your table.

Turkey meat production in the United States during January-September 2019 was 4.35 billion pounds, down about a quarter of a percent from a year earlier.

Top eight turkey-producing states:

  1. Minnesota - 42.0 million birds

  2. North Carolina - 32.5 million birds

  3. Arkansas - 31.5 million birds

  4. Indiana - 20.0 million birds

  5. Missouri - 19.0 million birds

  6. Virginia - 16.8 million birds

  7. Iowa - 11.9 million birds

  8. California - 11.0 million birds

U.S. total turkey production: 244.8 million birds

Price Statistics

Retail prices for frozen whole turkey:  

  • 2012 average: $1.62 per pound

  • 2013 average: $1.65 per pound

  • 2014 average: $1.60 per pound

  • 2015 average: $1.51 per pound

  • 2016 average: $1.55 per pound

  • 2017 average: $1.58 per pound

  • 2018 average: $1.50 per pound

Wholesale prices for frozen whole turkey hens:    

  • 2012 average: $1.06 per pound

  • 2013 average: $1.00 per pound

  • 2014 average: $1.08 per pound

  • 2015 average: $1.16 per pound

  • 2016 average: $1.17 per pound

  • 2017 average: $0.96 per pound

  • 2018 average: $0.80 per pound

  • 2019 average: $0.89 per pound

Production Statistics

Value of turkey production:

  • 2012: $5.45 billion

  • 2013: $4.84 billion

  • 2014: $5.30 billion

  • 2015: $5.71 billion

  • 2016: $6.18 billion

  • 2017: $4.87 billion

  • 2018: $3.88 billion

U.S. turkey meat production (ready-to-cook weight):

  • 2012: 5.97 billion pounds

  • 2013: 5.81 billion pounds

  • 2014: 5.76 billion pounds

  • 2015: 5.63 billion pounds

  • 2016: 5.98 billion pounds

  • 2017: 5.98 billion pounds

  • 2018: 5.88 billion pounds

  • 2019: 5.89 billion pounds (WASDE projection as of November 2019)

Consumption Statistics

U.S. domestic use of turkey:

  • 2012: 5.03 billion pounds

  • 2013: 5.07 billion pounds

  • 2014: 5.05 billion pounds

  • 2015: 5.14 billion pounds

  • 2016: 5.38 billion pounds

  • 2017: 5.35 billion pounds

  • 2018: 5.29 billion pounds

  • 2019: 5.30 (WASDE projection as of November 2019)

Trade Statistics

U.S. turkey meat exports:

  • 2012: 797 million pounds

  • 2013: 741 million pounds

  • 2014: 775 million pounds

  • 2015: 529 million pounds

  • 2016: 569 million pounds

  • 2017: 622 million pounds

  • 2018: 611 million pounds

  • 2019: 637 million pounds (WASDE projection as of November 2019)

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset. 

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