This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
The holidays are right around the corner and Thanksgiving preparations are likely well under way, with finalizations of the menu coming this week as you figure out which staples to include in your feast. At the center of your table–the turkey, stuffed and cooked to perfection. But the decisions start long before you determine what time everyone should sit down for dinner. Where you get your turkey from is just as important as how you prepare it, and it’s worth considering keeping Costco or any other bulk enterprises out of the equation this year.
Struggling With Sleep? This Rechargeable Sound Machine Is A Total Game-Changer
Buying your bird local this year could be the best way to ensure the highest quality turkey, while also supporting small farms that have struggled to meet demand over the past few months to accommodate smaller family gatherings with smaller birds. A blog post for the company Heifer International, a nonprofit which supports small-scale farmers, explains why the quality of your turkey will be better if you rely on a more local farmer. Quoting The New York Times, they write, "Because [Grass Roots] sells directly to familiies and isn't locked into a supermarket chain's schedule, farmers have been able to move processing timelines in an attempt to produce small birds." While the size of the turkey will be more fitting for a small gathering, buying locally will also provide health benefits as a small staff leads to less possibility of contamination and illness.
With health and sanitation being such important topics over the last year, it’s valuable to take these concerns into account when looking at the food you will be serving your family on Thanksgiving. Although large corporations are able to produce food in mass, the quality of the turkey could potentially be compromised this year with more employees working to churn out your food before the holidays.
Cody Hopkins, CEO of Grass Roots explains to Heifer USA, “When you buy a Grass Roots turkey, not only do you feel good about the quality of the product, the way the animals are raised, the way the environment's treated, but you can also feel good about helping famers make a living wage.” Outside of the necessity to ensure that your food is the highest quality, this year has been tough on small businesses, and now is the best time to support smaller-scale farms which provide a high-quality product and are in need of the business.
Donna Kilpatrick, Ranch Manager and Land Steward of Heifer USA urges consumers to take a step back from big businesses during the pandemic and consider the implications of buying local on your family and small farms. She says, “Purchasing meat from small-scale local farms and cooperatives like Grass Roots this holiday season, rather than commercial stores, provides much-needed support to farmers and their families. Plus, the meat is healthier, tastier and allows us to reduce the environmental strain that comes from industrial and monoculture farms.”
If serving your family the highest quality food this Thanksgiving is a priority, pass over your yearly trip to Costco and order your turkey online from a small farm. Not only is this means of shopping more Covid friendly than the busy jumbo stores, but the turkey you serve will be more delicious, ethically raised, and will give back to your community after this tough year. We can’t wait to enjoy our delicious feasts too!
