When it comes to food-focused holidays in the U.S., Thanksgiving takes the cake — and the pie, turkey, dressing and every delicious dish in between.

That food, however, represents more than sustenance. It symbolizes bountiful harvests, grateful hearts and a holiday tradition that dates back centuries.

Long before Europeans came to the Americas, native people performed dances, rituals and festivals to ensure a good harvest. British colonists are thought to have offered services of thanksgiving in the early 1600s, well before Plymouth Pilgrims coordinated the Thanksgiving feast of 1621.

Local festivals of Thanksgiving were sporadic for more than 150 years before President George Washington proclaimed “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day would be held annually the fourth Thursday of November. Congress passed a joint resolution legalizing the holiday in 1941.

Modern Thanksgiving Days are often marked by feasts with family and friends — all made possible thanks to farmers. The bounty that weighs down dining room tables and buffets from sea to shining sea is also produced from coast to coast.

While not a large-scale producer of many Thanksgiving favorites, Alabama farmers do grow some ingredients integral to Turkey Day tables, such as green beans for the classic casserole, plus sweet potatoes and pecans primed to fill pie crusts.

Turkey remains the godfather of Thanksgiving tables, even as some families opt out of poultry and into other protein powerhouses like glazed ham or smoked brisket. Those meaty options could originate on Alabama farms, too. So can cornmeal for dressing, apples for dumplings and potatoes for mashing.

This Nov. 26, remember: Whether bought directly from an Alabama farmer or purchased at the supermarket, each ingredient gets its start on a farm and supports a farm family. That’s worth being grateful for this Thanksgiving season. 

Editor’s Note: This is the final installment in a four-part series highlighting agriculture’s role in U.S. history as America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Learn more by visiting america250al.org.