North Carolina produced more than 1 billion pounds of turkey

Did you know North Carolina produced more than 1 billion pounds of Turkey in 2022? 

Each year, an estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving Day alone. More than 85% of U.S. turkey production takes place in just 13 states, and North Carolina is one of them, working hard to support millions of Thanksgiving tables nationwide. More than 90% of Americans observe the tradition each year.  

North Carolina has a massive agricultural background, with more than 5,700 farms owned by families producing poultry and other poultry product, like eggs. North Carolina’s poultry industry generates 148,350 jobs, with the state’s turkey sector valued at $1.1 billion in 2022.  

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina produced 5% fewer turkeys than they did last year, at 27.5 million turkeys. Minnesota produced more live turkeys, producing roughly 33.5 million of them in 2024. 

Although Minnesota raised more turkeys, North Carolina came out on top with having the highest amount of total production of turkey in 2024. The average bird size was higher than the average, with them being roughly 36.9 pounds each turkey. Therefore, North Carolina accounts for 15.3% of the nation’s total turkey output by weight, while Minnesota accounts for 15.1%. Minnesota and North Carolina together contribute to more than 30% of the United States’ total turkey production.  

In total, the United States produced an estimated 5.11 pounds of Turkey, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Poultry-Production and Value Report. 

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