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Frank Answers

October 27, 2008 on 1:22 pm | By Emily in Consumer Buying Power, Food Labels 11 Comments

If you keep up with turkey trends, you’ve probably noticed a certain word coming up more frequently each year. Now a growing culinary trend, “heritage” turkeys were once the standard at Thanksgiving tables across the United States. With the post-war advent of intensive confinement and industrial breeding techniques they all but disappeared from American farms and tables.

Luckily, a few farmers like Frank Reese Jr. of Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch maintained these old breeds and are now able to share them with people looking for turkey that tastes a little more…turkey-ey. Frank will be joining us now until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to field questions and give advice on finding a real heritage turkey. What do you need to look for, and what should you ask the farmer or grocer?

Post your questions in the comments section of this blog, and Frank will reply, drawing on years of experience and lots of taste tests. Please allow a day or two for your answer to post. If you’re new to the subject, click here to get a heritage turkey primer. Check back often for more information and maybe a recipe or two!


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11 Comments

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  1. Hi, I usually get a turkey that is labeled “free-range.” What does that mean? I try to be careful about what kind of meat I buy, but its really hard to sort through all of the labels. When I think “free-range,” I think happy birds on green pastures, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t be this cheap if that were true. What does free-range really mean and what should I be looking for?

    Comment by Marian — November 12, 2008 #

  2. Is this legit? Where is the best place to purchase a true heritage turkey?

    Comment by christine — November 12, 2008 #

  3. Is there a place we can order heritage turkey’s online and have them shipped?

    Comment by Jim — November 13, 2008 #

  4. Christine,

    You are asking about (www.marysturkeys.com). From what we understand, Mary’s does have a flock of heritage birds, however they have not been audited by Animal Welfare Approved. To assure your turkey is a true heritage breed, we encourage you to check with Mary that your bird comes specifically from the heritage flock on the farm.
    Thanks for writing,
    Frank

    Comment by Frank — November 14, 2008 #

  5. Marian,

    “Free-range” is probably one of the more confusing labels out there. As it is completely unregulated by the the USDA (for turkeys), it has no official meaning. Often turkeys labeled free-range have spent their lives in a single building with minimal outdoor access. This “outdoor access” can mean a dirt lot at the end of a building, or a porch attached to the side. What it does NOT necessarily mean is ranging on quality pasture. You are correct in your assumption that true free ranging increases the end cost somewhat–it takes a lot more labor to move birds to fresh pasture than to leave them in the same building their entire life. However, this does not mean that all high-welfare meat is prohibitively expensive. In many areas it is possible to find pasture-raised turkey locally–for much less than organic or “free-range” through the mail. Resources like Eat Wild, the Eat Well Guide and the Animal Welfare Approved database can help you find farmers in your area who are growing high-quality, humanely raised birds. Once you do find a farmer, make sure to ask him or her:

    1. Was the bird raised on pasture? (Not just given occasional “access”)
    2. What it a slow-growing bird?
    3. How much of the day did the bird spend inside? (Look for birds who are housed at night only)

    Hope this helps, and thanks for writing.
    Frank

    Comment by Frank — November 14, 2008 #

  6. Jim,

    The Animal Welfare Approved database lists online retailers of Animal Welfare Approved heritage turkey (you’ll see my farm listed there) but there are other online resources too. EatWellGuide.org and EatWild.com are both good ways to find farms that direct market. You can also use both of those sites to search for a farm near you, eliminating the need to ship and supporting a local farmer.

    Thanks for your interest,

    Frank

    Comment by Frank — November 14, 2008 #

  7. I appreciate and admire your dedication and lifelong pursuit of preservation of this breed. That kind of passion is very rare. Do you ever have field days at your farm, or offer tours or tastings? I know my way around a kitchen, but is cooking a heritage turkey as simple as the recipe detailed on your website?

    Comment by Chuck — November 24, 2008 #

  8. There are many way to cook our turkey. If you type in “heritage turkey recipe” you will find many. We do have field trips and tours of the farms but only by appointment.
    Thanks,
    Frank

    Comment by Frank — November 24, 2008 #

  9. Hi Frank
    This is more of a question than a coment.
    I have been raising about 200 slate and am bronze.
    This is the first year i wanted to breed them any advice on that i do raise them all free range and natural anything imput you may have will be much appriciated

    Comment by kenneth corrao — January 19, 2009 #

  10. Dear Kenneth,
    Thanks for your interest. I encourage you to visit the ALBC’s website, http://www.albc-usa.org. They have some great information on raising and breeding turkeys on pasture. Good luck,
    Frank

    Comment by Frank — February 13, 2009 #

  11. Valuable content, thanks

    Comment by PLR Products — March 30, 2009 #

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