While Thanksgiving turkeys get all the attention this time of year, Americans actually eat more turkey year-round nowadays compared to our grandparent’s generation.

Here in Iowa, our farmers are on the leading edge of the deli turkey trend. Iowa is home to 130 turkey farms who raise more than 11 million turkeys per year. The majority of these turkeys are raised for Sara Lee Foods based in Storm Lake and West Liberty Foods, a farmer-own cooperative in West Liberty and Mount Pleasant.

West Liberty is the leading supplier of deli turkey to Subway restaurants. Sara Lee Foods makes the popular Jimmy Dean D-Lites breakfast sandwiches with turkey sausage.

So next time you’re ordering a turkey foot-long at Subway, you’re eating local, thanks to Iowa’s turkey farmers.


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