(Ames) — This time of year it is no surprise to learn the Iowa Turkey Federation headquartered in Ames, Iowa receives numerous phone calls and email messages inquiring everything about turkeys. Katie Olthoff serves as the Communications Specialist for the Iowa Turkey Federation, but she is also a turkey producer. She says her family utilizes turkey meat in a variety of ways beyond the traditional Thanksgiving meal.
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Iowa ranks ninth in turkey production, but fifth in the nation for turkey processing. Olthoff says turkey consumption has been on the rise for many of years, and she says besides your holiday meal, Iowa turkeys are found at your favorite fast food sandwich shop.
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The turkey official says the Iowa turkey industry was given some good news last week when the Hillshire Brand turkey processing plant, based in Storm Lake, was again able to resume production following a devastating fire last March.
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As for the questions relating to how you should cook a turkey, Olthoff says the answers to most questions may be found at the iowa turkey.org website.
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