From what we can tell, we are one of only a few farms on this continent raising free-range, organic Heritage turkeys.
The fall equinox is in two weeks. Collectively, our culture’s attention is beginning to turn to fall holidays and rich meals. Both your family and our farm family will soon be holding plates laden with turkey, fall squash, and other seasonal delights.
Each year, with love and excitement, we take it upon ourselves to provide responsibly-raised turkey to those who keep with tradition, but prefer to serve something intentional and considered: turkey raised organically, on-pasture, with access to natural forages, fresh air, and sunshine.
Why is buying a turkey for Thanksgiving a responsible decision?
Since they were very young poults, our turkeys have lived completely free-range lives, as turkeys are naturally inclined to live. They flock outdoors on pasture, with access to water, sunshine, wild-growing food, and room to stretch their wings. Our outdoor system gives them room to express their turkey-ness and establish a healthy flock dynamic – they are social creatures with a very particular hierarchy.
In addition to instinctively foraging through grass for seeds, bugs, and what have you, we provide them with wholesome USDA-certified organic grains as a supplement without the use of antibiotics, GMOs, or synthetic chemicals.
What kind of turkeys does Elmwood raise?
On our Central Kentucky farm, we maintain two flocks of turkeys:
Our Rare Heritage Breeds are a far closer relative to their wild ancestors than to any modern domestic breed. Our operation helps preserve this now rare animal by raising them for the customers who love them.
The Broad-Breasted Bronze Breed is similar in size and shape to a conventionally purchased turkey, but the similarities end there – these are raised free-range on fresh green grass and clover pastures, supplemented with wholesome organic non-GMO grains, resulting in moist, flavorful meat. These come to us as day-old poults from a hatchery outside Cincinnati, which supplies smaller operations like ours along with commercial-scale clients.
Wait… What’s the Difference?
Good question. A Heritage Breed is a traditional livestock breed that predates the era of widespread industrialized agriculture.
Traditionally, these kinds of animals naturally bred to retain characteristics that aided in their survival. Instincts were kept intact, they could forage for themselves, and they maintained natural levels of fertility. Why didn’t they follow us into the era of industrialized agriculture? Their slower-growing nature and self-sufficient behaviors made these birds fall out of favor.
Thankfully, the local food movement and small-scale, sustainable farming has essentially brought heritage breed turkeys back from extinction, making this kind of turkey a rare and exciting offering. From what we can tell, we are one of only a few farms on this continent raising free-range, organic heritage turkeys. The heritage turkeys we hatch in the spring—primarily Narragansetts—grow more slowly than the broad-breasted bronze and never get as big, but they provide a rich-tasting, seasonal delicacy.
The Broad-Breasted Turkey is a modern breed farmed for its higher white-meat content, fast rate of growth, and sheer size. Unlike most birds you might find at the grocery store, we raise the Broad-Breasted Breed on pasture, exactly like their Heritage Breed cousins. They receive access to the same sun, same shelter, same room to play, and same foraging opportunities. And believe us when we say: this makes a huge difference in the resulting flavors.
The Broad-Breasted Bronze turkeys we raise are less industrialized than the all-white turkeys. It’s possible turkey breeders lost some of the meat’s flavor when they started selecting birds for all white feathers.
These turkeys do get big fast—a force to reckon with when walking amongst a hundred or more this time of year. The bronze birds also seem to be heartier, which is important for our outdoor pasture-based system.
“Elmwood Stock Farm’s heritage birds are free-range and free of additives, stimulants, and synthetic inputs”
“‘Rich without gamy notes,’ the meat had a ‘texture like velvet.’”
“‘…also one of the few in the United States to be certified organic.”
Which kind of Turkey should you order for Thanksgiving?
We’ve walked through what’s special about each breed to us. But what will the difference be when the big holiday rolls around? What does buying and cooking either of them mean when it comes to setting the table?
Use the following chart to discover the differences in size, shape, and flavor between the Broad-Breasted and Heritage Breed turkeys.
Broad Breasted
Heritage Breed
Size
Large-Framed
Size
Sleeker
Shape
Rounder
Shape
Longer
Taste
A familiar, more mild flavor
Taste
Rich, juicy, and flavorful
Dark or Light Meat?
More light than dark meat
Dark or Light Meat?
Equal ratio of both
Mac Stone Speaks About Turkey Production at Elmwood Stock Farm.
Hear him speak about the rewards of being a turkey farmer, from personally interacting with the creatures to taking pride in delivering a quality holiday product.
Holiday turkey pre-orders are open
Reserve yours now to lock in your unforgettable Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Elmwood Stock Farm ships all Thanksgiving Turkey orders the week of November 16-18 to ensure your order arrives before the big holiday, with enough time to thaw it and prepare. If you would like your Turkey shipped sooner, let us know in the Notes of your order.