Demand for turkey has dropped for a second Thanksgiving in a row as grocery inflation pushes up prices of holiday staples. Once seen as the centrepiece of the Thanksgiving dinner table, its popularity has steadily declined as Americans turn to cheaper options like chicken or vegetarian alternatives.

While the tradition of the official turkey presentation began in 1947 when President Harry Truman was president, they were frequently gobbled up.

Minnesota birds Peach and Blossom receive the ritualistic waiver as Thanksgiving approaches. “They tell me 2,500 people are here, looking for a pardon!”