Heritage Turkeys:
Our turkeys are genuine heritage breed turkeys.
This means they are naturally mating, are long lived and are slow growing,
requiring a full six months to reach market weight. These characteristics
separate them from the commercial, broad breasted white turkeys. These
commercial breeds can only be replicated through artificial insemination,
are very unhealthy and so live very short lives and have been genetically
engineered to grow so rapidly (by eating vast quantities of formulated
feed) to be market ready in about 12 weeks.
Our genuine heritage breed turkeys (primarily the Blue Slate variety)
are raised entirely on pasture from as soon as they are old enough to
go outside. The turkeys are hatched in the spring, raised during the summer
and processed in the fall for the holiday season.
Since they forage outside, our birds consume less formulated
feed than industrial breeds, and what they do consume is an entirely vegetarian
feed ration specifically formulated for free range heritage breed turkeys.
The significant amount of green grasses, forbs, seeds, and insects in
their diets, as well as their daily exposure to sunshine and fresh air
results in a turkey with genuine flavor and pleasantly firm meat texture.
The birds are processed by a USDA Inspected and regulated processing
plant. The turkeys are raised humanely and certified as such by the Animal
Welfare Institute.
The heritage turkey products available for purchase
through the member's on-line food store
are described below:
Whole Heritage Turkeys
Most of the turkeys are sold as whole frozen birds. They are divided into
3 weight ranges: small (birds with processed weights under 10 lbs); medium
(between 10 and 15 lbs) and large (over 15 lbs).
Heritage Turkey Breasts
We have both Bone-In and Boneless turkey breasts. The bone-in breasts
come in two weight ranges, 4-8 lbs, and 8-14 lbs. The boneless breasts
are skinless, breast filet tenders that weigh about 1 lb.
Heritage Turkey Sausage and Hotdogs
Turkeys not considered ‘Grade A’ are further processed into
turkey sausage, generally Italian or Breakfast flavored, and turkey hotdogs.
All are 100% heritage turkey meat – no fillers. The sausage seasonings
are all natural and no MSG or nitrates are used. The sausage is available
ground in one pound packages. Breakfast sausage also comes as link sausage
in 12-14 oz packages. The hotdogs come in 1 pound packages.
Pulled Barbecue Turkey
This is cooked, boneless heritage turkey, richly flavored with barbecue
sauce. It is ready to eat. It comes frozen in 1 lb packages. Just pop
it into the microwave for a minute or so for a great tasting, quick and
easy sandwich.
Turkey Breast Cutlets.
Made from the breast meat, the cutlets have been mechanically tenderized
and cut into quarter ounce pieces. They are great marinated and then barbecued.
4 cutlets to a 1 LB package.
Please see the members on-line food
store for prices and ordering information.
Please see the recipe page for heritage
turkey cooking tips.
Back to 'How
it Works', Heritage Turkey.
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