Gobble, gobble

by Eileen Weber

Turkey, turkey, turkey. Perfectly browned, positioned on a fancy platter, and ready to eat. Thanksgiving is all about the bird.

But whether you are a John Madden wannabe with a yen for Turducken or you’d rather salivate over the Tofurkey, the bird is king. And each year, consumers increasingly look for a better alternative than that frozen bowling ball sitting in the display case at the supermarket.

Over 200 million turkeys are raised in the U.S. A certain percentage of them are certified organic which means they are fed organic grains and they are hormone- and antibiotic-free. But being organic doesn’t make them free-range. According to turkey farmer George Purtill of Old Maids Farm in South Glastonbury, the two shouldn't be confused. Organic refers to how they are fed. Free-range pertains to how the turkeys are raised, either in open pens or wandering in pastures and wooded areas.

Some of those birds are also heritage turkeys, meaning their breeds have been raised generation after generation. Breeds like the Standard Bronze, the Bourbon Red, the Jersey Buff and the Narragansett are some of the more popular ones.

According to LocalHarvest.org, most heritage turkeys were developed in the U.S. and Europe over hundreds of years. The typical store-bought turkey is mass-produced from the White Broad-breasted turkeys: Birds that are so top-heavy, they can barely walk. The heritage turkeys, typically free-range and organically raised, have more texture and flavor than their over-bloated cousins.

There are a few farms in Connecticut that offer organic, free-range birds. The following links are Connecticut farms that offer free-range and organically raised turkeys as well as other organic products. If you are interested in purchasing a free-range turkey, please contact the farms directly to inquire about available quantity:

White Gate Farm
Lyme, CT
(860) 739-9585
[email protected]
Bronze heritage organic turkeys, organic vegetables and flowers.

Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm
Sterling, CT
(860) 564-0248
Largest grower of free-range poultry, grass-fed beef, bakery and storefront.

Old Maids Farm
South Glastonbury, CT
(860) 918-5442
[email protected]
Organic produce, organically-raised turkeys, chickens and eggs.

Woodbridge Farm
Salem, CT
(860) 889-5797
[email protected]
Organically-raised turkeys, pigs, and cows; uses holistic biodynamic methods to raise livestock and grow produce.

Golden Acres Farm
Harwinton, CT
(860) 485-9155
[email protected]
Free-range turkeys, goats, lamb, eggs and cut-your-own Christmas trees.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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