In the Delmarva region, the industry’s economic impact was more than $7.5 billion in 2011, according to data from the US Poultry & Egg Association and the National Chicken Council, reports Delmarva Now.

On Maryland’s portion of the Eastern Shore, the industry directly employed 3,689 people, representing about 88 per cent of the chicken industry’s direct jobs across the state, and about 36 per cent of the total jobs, which include direct, supplier and induced jobs.

For Delmarva, the exact number was $7,507,102,100, and the total number of jobs — either direct, supplier or induced — was 32,704.

The region’s largest poultry integrator, Perdue Farms, has an annual payroll for Delmarva employees of about $254 million. Additionally, via Perdue, about $66 million goes to farm families and about $340 million goes to grain purchases in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.

Across the three states, the chicken industry and employees paid more than $1.4 billion in federal, state and local taxes.

Family farms are among the most precious of America’s businesses. The private-farm formula has produced a reliable food supply and brought economic prosperity to millions of people. Through the poultry industry, Delmarva is a a terrific example of this.

So whilst there are rumours about pollution, welfare and environmental concerns, consumers are advised to speak to local poultry businesses to find out the facts and remember how financially critical the poultry industry is for Delmarva, concludes the Delmarva Now report.