As we wrap up the harvest season and slide into the holiday season, let's take a moment to thank farmers for our favorite holiday commodities. We also thank farmers for completing their Census of Agriculture and other USDA-NASS surveys that provide data about U.S. agriculture.
This Veteran’s Day, we honor those for their sacrifice and service, including our veteran producers who continue to serve through their contributions to U.S. agriculture. In 2017, 17% of all U.S. farms had a producer who served or was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Pumpkins are a vital part of the holiday season and make delicious pies. Illinois produced 98% of processed pumpkins that go into pies. Pumpkin production in 2021 totaled almost 1.9 billion pounds, up 26% from 2020. Don’t miss this deep dive into U.S. pumpkin production by the USDA Economic Research Service.
Minnesota remains the leading turkey producer, followed by North Carolina, Arkansas and Indiana.
Wisconsin and Massachusetts are the leading producers of cranberries, followed by New Jersey and Oregon. Farmers produced about 353,700 tons of cranberries in 2021.
You are most likely to encounter a pear tree for fruit production in Washington or Oregon. New Jersey or Pennsylvania are your best bets to buy a partridge to place in your pear tree. Washington state is also the number one producer of apples.
Almost 800 floriculture operations earning $100,000 or more helped produce poinsettias in 2021, selling over 42 million pots of poinsettias valued at over $215 million in sales. North Carolina, California, Florida and Texas are the lead producing states of poinsettias.
Other states that put your favorite foods on the plate include: Wisconsin - snap (green) beans; Michigan – squash; Kansas – cattle; Texas – mutton; Florida & Louisiana - sugar cane; Idaho - potatoes & hops.
Sources: USDA-NASS Census of Agriculture, Vegetables Annual Summary, Turkeys Raised and Floriculture reports.