Why Your Holiday Meal Now Depends On Minnesota And Wisconsin
Minnesota and Wisconsin may be rivals on the football field, baseball diamond, or basketball court, but these two neighboring states are now responsible for supplying some important parts of your festival holiday feast this season.
It's true that the Gopher State of Minnesota and the Badger State of Wisconsin share many similarities, from the natural geology of each state to our joint European heritage. Both states' sensibilities are similar, and each state experiences much of the same weather.
Holiday Feast Power Duo: How Minnesota and Wisconsin Feed the Season
There are differences, of course, as well as distinct rivalries that pit the Vikings against the Packers in the NFL, the Gophers against the Badgers in the Big 10, the Timberwolves against the Bucks in the NBA, and the Twins against the Brewers in Major League Baseball.
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And while America's Dairyland is slightly older than the Land of 10,000 Lakes-- Wisconsin became a state in 1848, while Minnesota didn't join the union until 10 years later, in 1858-- these two states form a powerful combo when it comes to that familiar feast you might have just enjoyed at Thanksgiving.
That's because two important parts of the traditional holiday feast, whether it's for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another seasonal get-together, were likely produced right here in each state's backyard.
Why Minnesota Leads the Nation in Turkey Farming
Take the star of most Thanksgiving dinners, the turkey. It might be a surprise to know that no other state produces more turkeys each year than Minnesota does.
But it's true. And no surprise to the gang over at the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. They know that Minnesota's number-one ranking is due to the tireless work of the 450 family farmers in Minnesota who raise approximately 46 million turkeys each and every year. Those turkey farms are concentrated in roughly 10 counties, located mainly in central and west-central Minnesota.
Cranberry Country: How Wisconsin Became #1 in the World
Meanwhile, behind the Cheddar Curtain over in Wisconsin, it's not turkey but a familiar side dish that's on your table during the holiday season: Cranberries. Wisconsin now produces the most cranberries of any state in the U.S., overtaking Massachusetts for that title around 30 years ago.
According to this Farm Progress story, Wisconsin produces about 5 billion barrels of cranberries every year, which is not only tops in the U.S. but in the entire world, and is likely why that tart, red berry was named the official state fruit back in 2004. Wisconsin is home to roughly 250 different cranberry growers, spread out in 18 of the state's central and north-central 72 counties.
So take a moment and try to picture a typical holiday feast without either turkey or cranberries. It just wouldn't be the same, would it? Thankfully, the turkey producers of Minnesota and the cranberry growers of Wisconsin are here to help keep those beloved holiday traditions going!
Now, while it's true these two states team up to make a powerful holiday combo, there are a few things those who grew up in Wisconsin (like I did) still think about their neighbors to the west. Keep scrolling to see what they are!
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10 Things Every Person From Wisconsin Thinks About Minnesota
