Buying Turkey

[DiamondDeb]

I am concerned about being able to find turkey locally this year. My health food store is taking orders. I can get Free Range or Organic. I don't think either are really natural. Do any of these sound like a natural turkey?

Free Range

No Preservatives • Vegetarian Diet • Gluten Free • No Antibiotics Ever • Raised Without Added Hormones
**Federal Regulations Prohibit The Use Of Hormones In Chicken

These turkeys are raised on healthful grains and allowed to roam in areas four times the size of the average commercial turkey ranch. Their high protein diet provides the optimum amount of nutrients for the turkey to grow into a bigger and more flavorful turkey than one typically found in the supermarket. You won't find any antibiotics, animal by-products, preservatives or hormones in a Mary's Free-Range Turkey.

Organic Turkey

No Preservatives • Vegetarian Diet • Gluten Free • No Antibiotics Ever • Raised Without Added Hormones
**Federal Regulations Prohibit The Use Of Hormones In Chicken

Mary's Free-Range Organic Turkeys are fed a certified organic high protein diet complete with the finest grains and vegetable proteins and grow naturally with plenty of open space on a certified organic ranch in sunny California. Because of cleaner living quarters, a healthier and happier turkey is produced having a better taste. You won't find any antibiotics, animal by-products, preservatives or hormones in a Mary's Free-Range Organic Turkey.

My health food store is not offering this one but maybe I could get them to order one? I could order this online. This sounds like a naturally raised turkey but it says vegetarian & then goes on to say protein only???

Heritage Turkey

No Preservatives • Vegetarian Diet • Gluten Free • No Antibiotics Ever • Raised Without Added Hormones
**Federal Regulations Prohibit The Use Of Hormones In Chicken

Just as Noah's Ark was created to preserve animal species, the Slow Food U.S.A. "Ark of Taste" was created to ensure the survival of near-extinct foods. The Narragansett, the oldest United States turkey variety, and the Bourbon Red were placed on the Slow Food U.S.A. "Ark of Taste" in 2001 to prevent their disappearance from the American table.
The "Heritage Turkey Project" is a joint effort of Slow Food U.S.A., small farmers who agreed to raise these special native birds and ecologically-sensitive consumers who crave an all-natural exquisite tasting experience.
The Heritage Turkey is truly a grand turkey - one that nature built. It is part of the traditional American Culinary History, and is the same turkey that our forefathers knew and cherished.
Savor a Mary's Free-Range Heritage Turkey and learn firsthand that their superior taste is a result of being raised with plenty of open space in a healthy and caring environment and fed only a diet high in protein. The combination of their diet and the exercise opportunity that they have produce a lean and tasty turkey. You won't find any antibiotics, animal by-products, preservatives or hormones in a Mary's Free-Range Heritage Turkey. The Heritage Turkeys preserve the mouth-watering taste of turkey that was destined to be lost forever. Simply put, the Heritage Turkey is the best, most flavorful, tender, juicy and moist turkey you will ever taste!

[DiamondDeb]

Forget the hearitage turkey. I can't afford any 7 lbs. $75 dollar turkey.

So, maybe buffalo burgers for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year...

[DiamondDeb]

This isn't even a local farm. They buy from California. They couldn't get further away and still be in the states. I'm annoyed.

[BikerAng]

Free Range is a naturally raised turkey (free range = outside & allowed to eat bugs/natural diet). They are way more expensive though.

[CindyCRNA]

I thought all 3 sounded good. I'm just curious, why do you feel none of these are natural?

[Portia]

I try to buy local turkey from the farm - not sure where you live, but it's nice to support local, smaller farms and you can see exactly what they are putting into their turkeys.

[ellenwyo]

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

I am concerned about being able to find turkey locally this year. My health food store is taking orders. I can get Free Range or Organic. I don't think either are really natural. Do any of these sound like a natural turkey?

[/INDENT]

I agree, these turkeys don't sound natural to me.. turkeys aren't total vegetarians.. they eat grass, bugs, seeds, acorns; grains are NOT a natural food. They need protein to thrive.

[DiamondDeb]

Thanks for the replies. This healthy eating stuff sure does take a lot of work and research, doesn't it?

Originally Posted by BikerAng

Free Range is a naturally raised turkey (free range = outside & allowed to eat bugs/natural diet). They are way more expensive though.

Free range can be not caged but inside a building. It can also be grain-fed.

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

I thought all 3 sounded good. I'm just curious, why do you feel none of these are natural?

Turkeys are not vegetarians. The Heritage turkey might be what I am looking for if the grainfed info is a typo. There is comlicting info about it.

Originally Posted by Portia

I try to buy local turkey from the farm - not sure where you live, but it's nice to support local, smaller farms and you can see exactly what they are putting into their turkeys.

I buy chicken from a local farm but turkey is going to be quite a ways away. I'm going to see if I can find a place. There's a farm on the east coast, over 2 hrs away, that raises turkeys. That would be a day trip. I can email for pricing. They are the only ones within reasonable driving distance.

Originally Posted by ellenwyo

I agree, these turkeys don't sound natural to me.. turkeys aren't total vegetarians.. they eat grass, bugs, seeds, acorns; grains are NOT a natural food. They need protein to thrive.

This is how I feel. I do get the impression most are fed some kind of feed though. I'm not really 100% sure what to look for on feed other than non-vegetarian and no soy.

[DiamondDeb]

I emailed the place on the east coast...kind of hoping they are affordibly priced. They offer a lot that I cannot get here & also have delivery routes though I'll be surprised if they come over this way.

Doesn't this sound great? I'll bet they even make their own Kombucha.

...organic grassfed dairy, beef, lamb, buffalo, goat, chicken, turkey, pork, eggs, and dairy cheese (cow and goat), as well as vegetables, herbs, fruits, and citrus. We also make our own certified organic orange and grapefruit juice from the world-renowned Indian River. We also have fermented foods.

The mentor for our farm is a third generation homeopath/naturopath doctor in his 70s with plenty of mileage under his belt. After his help with my own health issues I discovered the benefits of highly nutritious grassfed food. Our farm is dedicated to him for his help. Now we want to share our grassfed farming practices for your consumption as well. E-mail us for a products and price list. We also offer various workshops pertaining to nutrition and farming practices by professionals in their given fields.

[BikerAng]

I just found a local butcher (they just opened up a month ago) that buys only organic, local free range (grass fed beef) and scavenger chickens. These chickens are outside, and scavenge for their food and are not fed any grains of any kind. There really needs to be a more standardized method of labeling for the way animals are raised. Free range should mean free to range on a pasture. But yes, most are still fed grain (all store varieties are surely fed grain). I guess a better term to look for is scavenger? He sells scavenger eggs too. It's so hard to find and eat meat that is raised humanely on a natural diet!

ETA: wow, that farm sounds like a goldmine!!!

[fawn]

I don't even like Turkey that's the irritating part for me. So, to pay $75 is outrageous! I'd much rather have a prime rib.....

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by BikerAng

I just found a local butcher (they just opened up a month ago) that buys only organic, local free range (grass fed beef) and scavenger chickens. These chickens are outside, and scavenge for their food and are not fed any grains of any kind. There really needs to be a more standardized method of labeling for the way animals are raised. Free range should mean free to range on a pasture. But yes, most are still fed grain (all store varieties are surely fed grain). I guess a better term to look for is scavenger? He sells scavenger eggs too. It's so hard to find and eat meat that is raised humanely on a natural diet!

ETA: wow, that farm sounds like a goldmine!!!

That sounds like the best way to raise them. Labeling is horrible. It's mostly double talk and marketing magic.

I'd love to get the dairy and local buffalo, etc. It sounds like it would be a great source. I'm concerned it may be too expensive for me though.

Originally Posted by fawn

I don't even like Turkey that's the irritating part for me. So, to pay $75 is outrageous! I'd much rather have a prime rib.....

Oh, I love turkey. I used to buy turkey breast all year round. Going natural with my nutrition has put an end to that.

Alternatively, I heard on Planet Green's 100 Mile Challenge last night that crickets are a good source of protein...

[BikerAng]

Dang, I had a yard full of crickets this summer. Wonder if I could raise a couple of chickens in my yard? I'm in suburbia though, and I'm sure there is something in our CCR's prohibiting it. There are some homes down the street on land, they have roosters crowing in the morning. Hmmm...

It just amazes me that health food stores and specialty stores will still sell food raised this way and tout it as healthy (when the animals are still grown in huge "growing houses" with no access to natural light or grass/dirt/bugs!). Sheesh it's maddening! Then when you do find really good quality meats/eggs they are outrageously expensive.

[DiamondDeb]

OMGosh...I just got an email list of their products. Forget the day trip. Can I just move there???

All of our products are homemade with no processing...

All chickens, beef, pork and dairy are organic and grass fed, intensive rotationally grazed and freerange.

In addition we have organic vegtables, herbs, tropical fruit in season, as well as citrus... Just inquire at time of ordering, to find out what is available.

We also offer buying a quarter, half or whole beef, buffalo , lamb, at better prices...

...WE NOW HAVE FERMENTED RAW SALAD DRESSINGS VARIOUS BLENDS, ADDITIONALLY,RAISIN BREAD, AND MAYONNAISE.
ALL ARE WINNERS!

Their Grassfed Ground Beef is less than I pay now at the health food store but more than what I will pay at a local farm at the end of Nov. But they have things like stew meat & steaks and, oh, just about everything imaginable! Including Kombucha.

Tons of produce, too. And things like salmon which I know is not local but must be wild caught...I'd double check that but they are sold out. Seriously, I'd post the product list but it is HUGE!

We may have a winner!

WHOLE TURKEY $3.85LB
TURKEY BREASTS $5.99LB

This place is on the east cost & they say the closest they come is Tampa, which is on the west coast. I'm right in the middle, I could meet them at the side of the road!

I'm going to have to see what I can figure out. This has to work somehow, some way...

[Portia]

Originally Posted by fawn

I don't even like Turkey that's the irritating part for me. So, to pay $75 is outrageous! I'd much rather have a prime rib.....

I'm with you, Fawn. Although the local grown ones have more flavor than the store-bought, it's still not a great-tasting bird IMO.

[fawn]

I only like the skin! I really just don't even have the energy this year. I'm just going to my Dad's house plopping down and playing games and not worrying about what is served. I'll bring a couple of things, my organic cousin will bring something we will enjoy and a good game of dominos with my kids.
so glad I'm not cooking.

[wcwendy]

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

I emailed the place on the east coast...

Do they ship? What's the name of the business? Thank you!