MINNEAPOLIS — Based on the numbers, there is a good chance that a Thanksgiving turkey came from Minnesota this year.
Minnesota farmers grow about 45 million turkeys a year on more than 500 farms, or nearly 18% of the country’s turkey supply, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Americans should eat about 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving.
Minnesota was the nation’s leader in turkey production in 2020 with 40 million birds — nine million more than North Carolina, which is No. 2 in production.
South Dakota produces about 5 million turkeys a year and North Dakota about 1 million.
