Turkeys? Pecans? Collards? Mapping your Thanksgiving meal

Although North and South Carolina are urbanizing, with fast-growing cities and suburbs, agriculture remains a major piece of the economy for both states. Agriculture contributes $78 billion to North Carolina’s economy and $42 billion to South Carolina’s.

It’s fairly well-known that North Carolina is a major turkey producer (No. 2 in the nation). But what about all the other foods we traditionally associate with the Thanksgiving meal?

Knowing how consumers’ attention to locally grown foods has increased in recent years, we’ve mapped which N.C. and S.C. counties produce the most turkeys, sweet potatoes, collards and – for those Thanksgiving pies – pumpkins, pecans and apples.

Here’s to a Happy Thanksgiving for all Carolinians.