Do your Thanksgiving Turkey Homework

Recently, I was reading about Thanksgiving traditions and came across a list of Thanksgiving jokes. Although many of them were politically incorrect, I thought this one made a particularly appropriate comment on the condition of our food system today.

A turkey farmer was always experimenting with breeding to perfect a better turkey. His family was fond of the leg portion for dinner and there were never enough legs for everyone. After many frustrating attempts, the farmer was relating the results of his efforts to his friends at the general store get together. "Well I finally did it! I bred a turkey that has 6 legs!" They all asked the farmer how it tasted. "I don't know" said the farmer. "I never could catch the darn thing!"
Source: http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/

This joke isn’t that far off from the truth about how turkeys are commercially raised today. Many commercially raised turkeys have been genetically manipulated to grow larger than normal and to produce more breast meat. They’ve been raised on antibiotics to make them grow faster, and may also have added preservatives and coloring. To read more about the plight of the commercially raised turkey, visit http://www.adoptaturkey.org/industry.htm. I would caution you that this information is not for children nor for the faint of heart.

The alternative to buying one of these commercially raised turkeys for your Thanksgiving dinner just takes a bit of homework and pre-planning. There are lots of choices out there, although the terminology may be confusing. Should you buy Pasture Raised, Organic, Free Range, or a Heritage Breed? Some terms have been co-opted by big-agriculture corporations and don’t always mean what they seem. A little homework before you shop with help clarify these terms. In the Eat Well Guide Blog, they provide a thorough glossary of terms related to how your turkey was raised. Please check it out at http://blog.eatwellguide.org/2008/10/its-turkey-time/

Once you’ve done your homework and decided what type of turkey to purchase, you may need to locate a farm, food co-op or local grocer and pre-order. These types of turkeys are not always available in large quantities and often sell quickly. You should first ask your local grocer if they plan to carry any locally-raised, organic turkeys. If they don’t, it’s a good opportunity to let them know you are interested and recommend they carry them for the Christmas holiday or for next Thanksgiving. If you don’t locate a turkey source in your community, you can visit www.localharvest.org, or www.eatwellguide.org. Type in your zip code and you will find a local farm or on-line source for ordering your holiday bird. It is an extra bit of work in addition to cooking the holiday meal, but you’ll feel better knowing you are feeding your loved ones a healthy Thanksgiving turkey!