(JNS.org) Ahead of Americans’ nationwide feasting on Turkey for Thanksgiving last week, newly released statistics showed that Israel is the surprising world leader in consumption of turkey per capita.
According to figures from Israel’s turkey industry, agriculture ministry, and foreign ministry, the average Israeli eats about 28 pounds of turkey per year, compared with the 16.7 pounds consumed by the average American. Turkey represents a quarter of Israel’s total meat production, and the Jewish state is known for inventing the “turkey pastrami” deli meat.
“In the early days of the state, getting meat to Israelis was a problem. The country was poor, so it couldn’t afford to import too much beef, and chickens required refrigeration, which many Israelis did not have at the time. … Turkey, because it is a tougher meat than chicken, proved to be a better choice for pastrami production, so farms started raising turkeys,” Israeli turkey farmer Yaron Glover told the Times of Israel.
“Israelis got used to turkey, and manufacturers got used to using it in food production, so that even today when most Israelis can afford meat and chicken and have the refrigerator and freezer space, turkey is still very popular,” added Glover.