Happy Thanksgiving from Berkeley Patch

At this time of Thanksgiving, Berkeley Patch would like to give thanks for its readers, contributors and supporters. Your conversation, connection and support provides vibrancy and insight to Berkeley Patch, and keeps our reporters and editors inspired in addition to helping swell the pool of information in Berkeley.

Berkeley Patch would especially like to thank our freelancers and bloggers, who contribute out of their own passion and dedication:

: for her creative and unique column, , which we one day soon hope to see turned into a book.

: for informing the community with her witty, intelligent weekly write-ups of crime in Berkeley through .

: for her commitment to Berkeley Patch throughout her summer internship and beyond, and for setting a high standard with the series. 

: for sharing her dedication and insight through and for helping our furry friends in Berkeley.

 and : for sharing the history of Berkeley's beautiful buildings and architecture in their weekly series.

: for scouring the Berkeley food scene in her blog, and standing by her opinions. It's a delicious task, but someone has to do it.

: for sharing Berkeley's cheapest and most delicious treats in her blog. 

: for providing color and context to .

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Facts about Thanksgiving food from the U.S. Census Bureau

Around 248 million turkeys are expected to be raised in the United States in 2011. 

The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2011 is 750 million pounds.

The total weight of sweet potatoes produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2010 was 2.4 billion pounds. North Carolina (at 972 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state.

Total production of pumpkins in the major pumpkin-producing states was 1.1 billion pounds in 2010.

U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2011 were valued at $7.8 million — with 99.7 percent of imports from Canada. When it comes to sweet potatoes, the Dominican Republic was the source of 60.1 percent ($3.2 million) of total imports ($5.3 million). The United States ran a $3.6 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $41.7 million in sweet potatoes.

The typical American consumed 13.3 pounds of turkey in 2009, with no doubt a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato consumption was 5.3 pounds.