It’s better to be an early bird, especially the fresh kind.
Opt for an organic, pastured-raised turkey from a local farmer or fresh, but frozen one this holiday season. While you may have to reserve your bird or visit a farmer’s market, it can be worth the investment—literally—since shopping locally helps the community. Plus, you can feel confident that your fresh turkey will not contain additives unlike the typical, store-bought frozen turkey, which may be injected with up to 12-percent of a solution containing ingredients like sugar, salt and artificial flavorings. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two? Check the label for words like basted, marinated or injected.
Here are three places to get and/or order your fresh turkey:
White Oak Pastures: This family farm employs fair, sustainable and humane productions practices. Its turkeys freely roam, and are never treated with antibiotics or steroids. For Thanksgiving, order the medium turkey, which weighs approximate 12-16 pounds. by Nov. 14. Turkeys will arrive frozen, allowing the chef in your house to properly thaw it out. White Oak Pastures products are also sold in Publix, Kroger Whole Food Market and online.
White Oak Pastures, 22775 Hwy. 27, Bluffton. 229-641-2081, whiteoakpastures.com.
Heritage Farm: This certified naturally-grown farm is taking orders for whole turkeys and turkey breasts, which will be delivered on Nov. 19. For inquiries or to purchase, send an email to theheritagefarm.info@gmail.com or visit heritagefarm.locallygrown.net.
Heritage Farm, heritage-farm.net.
Whole Foods Market: Locations throughout metro Atlanta offer organic, kosher or heritage fresh turkeys.
Various locations, wholefoodsmarket.com.
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