Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s going to be a good one this year! Here at Bartlett’s, we are proud to offer high quality, humanely raised turkeys from two farms: Misty Knoll Farms and Koch’s Farm. Read a little more about them below!
Misty Knoll Farms is a family owned and operated farm located in Vermont. They raise turkeys that are widely considered the world standard for healthy and tasty poultry. Fed a vegetarian and grain free diet free from antibiotics, turkeys roam in an un-crowded environment. This grants them the natural, stress-free life and healthy diet that nature intended. Misty Knoll Farms is also an active member of the Vermont Fresh Network, which is a state-wide organization dedicated to building innovative partnerships among Vermont farmers, chefs, and consumers to strengthen Vermont’s agriculture and local economy. Additionally, all birds are processed on site in a USDA inspected facility. Since there is less travel, the birds are under less stress. Win, win, win.
Koch’s Farm was founded in 1953 by Lowell Koch and his wife Elizabeth. They started the business with only two turkey barns and a small processing plant and grew the business to 45 turkey barns by the 1980’s. Koch’s has been a pioneer in becoming one of the first to grow antibiotic-free turkeys with an all vegetarian diet. They also started a humane program eight years ago, and became the first turkey producer to be Certified Humane® with over 800,000 turkeys raised annually. Koch’s Turkey Farm was GAP (Global Animal Partnership) approved a year later. The high standards for raising turkeys this way provides Koch’s turkeys with twice the amount of space in the turkey barns as is required by normal commercial growing practices. We are thrilled work with Koch’s again this year!
Along with turkeys, we’ve also got you covered with all the fixings! Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, gravy, and more. Order online!
Commonly asked questions:
What size turkey should I buy?
We recommend at least one pound per person. (one and half pounds per person though…to ensure a decent amount of leftovers.)
Are the turkeys cooked, frozen, or refrigerated?
They are refrigerated, ready for the customer to cook. Not frozen, not cooked.
Is it best to brine?
Brining adds moisture and flavor to your roasted turkey. It can even help get that golden brown skin. If you are starting your Thanksgiving prep a few days in advance, it can’t hurt to throw your turkey in some brine. If you don’t have time, try adding a dry rub at least a few hours before cooking.
What time should I put the turkey in the oven?
Turkey usually takes about 12-15 minutes per pound, depending on the temp and whether or not it is stuffed. Multiply the total weight of your turkey by 15 to figure out your total roasting time. Be sure to leave a buffer before dinner, to let the bird rest before carving.
To stuff or not to stuff?
The official recommendation is that you should cook your stuffing separately. If you are a fan of a stuffed turkey, which some of us are, be sure the stuffing reaches a temp of 165°.
Written and compiled by Isabelle Nicolas
Edited by Kate O’Brien