3 fascinating facts about American chicken

September is National Chicken Month.

Every year, restaurants and supermarkets nationwide celebrate National Chicken Month with assorted deals and promotions. To get you in the spirit of the occasion, here are some interesting facts about America’s poultry industry.

1. The U.S. has the largest broiler chicken production in the world

Over nine billion broiler chickens were produced in 2018. That’s 56.6 billion pounds of poultry. America is also the second largest broiler chicken exporter in the world, behind Brazil. What doesn’t end up on supermarket shelves is shipped to countries like Mexico, Canada and Cuba.

2. Americans eat more chicken than anyone else in the world

Americans consumed 93.5 pounds of chicken per capita in 2018, up from 60 pounds per capita in 2012. Since 2010, poultry has overtaken beef as America’s favorite protein, and the trend is set to continue for years to come.

3. The poultry industry is the cornerstone of family-owned farms in America

Over 95 percent of broiler chickens in the United States are produced by family farmers, 60 percent of which operate small farms. The growing demand for poultry is allowing these small farmers to stay afloat.

Many restaurants offer special deals as a way to celebrate National Chicken Month. Be on the lookout for coupons from your favorite locations and don’t hesitate to sample your local chicken dishes or have friends and family over for a cookout before winter arrives.