by Take Two
Americans consume around 240 million turkeys every year, and that number continues to go up.
But why is turkey the star of the show on Thanksgiving? Why not a nice fat chicken, or a juicy roast beef?
“The Turkey: An American Story,” explores this question, and author Andrew F. Smith joins Take Two to explain more.
You can learn more about Smith’s book on his website.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
Is turkey native to America?
The first turkey walked over from Asia to North America. The first archaeological evidence for it is 50,000 years ago. It proliferated in North America and was domesticated in Mexico. The Europeans ran into it in Mexico and introduced it into Europe and by 1550 it was a common Christmas celebration food. The Europeans when they came to colonize America were already familiar with the turkey.
When did Thanksgiving turkey start here? Did it involve the pilgrims?
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