Some farmers’ turkey supplies sell out before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is nearly here, and turkey supplies at several small local farms are sold out.

“We take orders ahead of time when we announce our turkeys on our website in March or April,” said Cathy Horst, co-owner of Jehovah-Jireh farm in Dickerson. “We sold out two months ago and will slaughter them the week of Thanksgiving — that’s fresh.”

The story is the same for organic farmer Carol Rollman, owner of Sycamore Spring Farm on Elmer Derr Road in Frederick.

On Tuesday, Rollman was down to her last home-grown turkey.

“I’m finding more and more people calling every year wanting local turkeys, and it’s not just about supporting local farmers — it’s about knowing how it was raised,” Rollman said. “It’s becoming more about food safety and being health-conscious.”

The farmers said turkeys eat a lot of grass, if allowed.

“And that makes a lot of difference in taste and flavor,” Horst said. “People rave about the flavor.”

At Tuscarora Farms in Tuscarora, farmer Jon Sewell has plenty of turkeys left. He raises 167,000 turkeys a year for Plainville Farms in Oxford, Pa. The birds, which Sewell said are grown without growth hormones or antibiotics, make their way to Wegmans and Whole Foods stores.

“We raise turkeys all year-round for a top-notch company,” Sewell said. “The turkey business has been very good to us.”

Buying a turkey from a local farmer supports Maryland’s family farms and communities, according to a statement from the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

“Maryland farmers grow some of the freshest and best-tasting turkeys in the country,” state Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance said. “Buying locally supports Maryland’s economy and keeps us smart, green and growing.”

According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Census in 2007, 740,000 turkeys totaling more than 13.47 million pounds were raised in Maryland with a total value of $7 million.

Turkeys sold directly from the farm to consumers accounted for a small portion of the total production.

To find a local turkey, visit www.marylandsbest.net. The website, sponsored by the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Department, lists more than 40 farms throughout the state that sell farm-fresh turkeys.

Copyright 2011 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.

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