February is when we celebrate Great American Pie Month. Before you enjoy a slice, let’s take a look at some fun facts about your favorite desert:
- Evidence that the Egyptians made of some of the earliest pies can be found on the tomb walls of Pharaoh Ramesses II, who ruled from 1304 to1237 BC.
- Sales of pies in U.S. grocery stores were about $2.2 billion during the year of 2022.
- Apple, pumpkin, and cherry are the top flavors.
- Pumpkin pie was first introduced to the holiday table at the Pilgrim’s second Thanksgiving in 1623.
- The world’s largest cherry pie was baked on July 14, 1990, by members of the Oliver Rotary Club, in British Columbia. The pie weighed 37,721 pounds and was 20 feet in diameter!
- Sales of frozen pies rose up to $787.5 million in 2024.
- Pie isn’t just for desert. According to an American Pie Council survey, 35% of Americans say they’ve had pie for breakfast.
- It may surprise you, but apple pie is not uniquely American. The first recorded recipe for apple pie was written in England, in 1381. There are also recipes for Dutch apple pies that date back to 1514.
- There are only six Official State Pies:
- Vermont – Apple pie
- Florida – Key Lime pie
- Delaware – Peach pie
- Maine – Blueberry pie
- Texas – Pecan pie
- Illinois – Pumpkin pie
- McDonald’s restaurants introduced their apple pies in 1968. Ray Kroc came up with this great idea, and billions of them have been served.
Now, are you ready to enjoy a big slice of pie? I know I am!
