| | In a recent Departmental seminar at the North Carolina State University, Prestage Poultry Science Department, Dr. Eric Gonder reviewed development of the U.S. turkey industry through each decade since the 1940’s. |
According to USDA Economic Research Service projections, the industry produced 2.64 million metric tons of processed turkey in 2013. This will increase by approximately 1.4 percent in 2014 to 2.68 million metric tons. In reviewing expansion, it is noted that since 2010 the industry has recorded less than a 1 percent average annual increase to date. Exports have increased from174,000 metric tons representing 7 percent of output in 2010 to 355,000 metric tons projected for 2014 comprising 13 percent of production. Over the past five years, exports have increased at approximately 20 percent per annum albeit from a small base.