Heritage breed turkey vs store bought

depends on what “heritage breed” actually means…like “free range” and “organic” sometimes it’s just marketing. However if you buy a turkey from an actual small farm that actually raises them from actual unmodified genetics then yes it will have a completely different taste and texture. The dark meat will be far less fatty with a chew closer to wild game, and the breast will be normal sized with more flavor. The key to these birds is simply not to overcook…they are far less forgiving. But taste like they are supposed to taste

for example we get farm raised chicken locally. The chickens themselves are much smaller, cook much faster, and have a stronger flavor

i break them down completely...8 pieces

I recently watched a show about the bird raising industry that was focused on chickens and turkeys.

Yeah, "Free Range" is mostly a BS label for many of those businesses. All they have to do is have an opening for the birds to freely roam outside their caged area, but for the most part, the birds stay put since that is where their food and water are.

They did feature a couple turkey farmers who allow the birds free range on their property and their birds are far different when dressed out than those raised in the typical commercial business. For one, they can actually breed naturally since they are not so pumped up with growth hormones, so the breast meat is much smaller.

I've killed my share of yard birds over the years and the same is true for true free range chickens. The birds are far less fatty, the dark meat is considerably darker and the breast are far narrower with a pronounced breast bone------------but the taste is way superior in my opinion. I love using them for gumbos and soups.

I’m picking up a farm raised turkey from A&A acres farm in loranger on Saturday at the farmers market. I have actually met the turkey before it was butchered. No hormones, no antibiotics, clean feed and pasture raised

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I have actually met the turkey before it was butchered.

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Was there a formal introduction or was it more just in passing?

farmer is a friend of ours LOL we were just hanging out. I do highly recommend their chicken and eggs though, they are at the Hammond farmers market every Saturday

you won’t find better products

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I have actually met the turkey before it was butchered.

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Will that make it difficult to eat?

Back in the 70s my aunt and uncle lived on some acreage and my uncle bought a cow (or maybe a bull) to raise/fatten and then have processed. He sends it off to be processed no issues, but when he gets the meat back, he can't bring himself to eat any of it because he'd gotten so attached to the animal.

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Ashley also gave us two bags of necks

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That is like heaven for me since I love to make turkey neck stew. Smother down the necks in a thick, rich brown gravy, remove them from the pot and pick all the meat off the bones and then toss it back into the pot.

It's po-folk food, but damn good.

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No hormones

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It’s been illegal to use hormones for poultry in the U.S. since the 1950s.