These days, almost everything sold in a conventional U.S. supermarket has been industrialized in some form. This is also true of the beloved Thanksgiving bird. The White Broad-Breasted Turkey that we Americans take such pride in preparing for our holiday celebrations, is as manufactured as the couches we end up napping on following those lovely tryptophan-heavy meals.
Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration.
But it’s true that the conventional turkey has been bred to secure certain unnatural genetic traits. And that the modern American turkey is so broad-breasted that it’s physically impossible for it to mate. That means that for each of the 45 million turkeys we Americans so lovingly stuff, roast and baste in November and December, a human being had to be there to take care of the most crucial part of the reproduction process.
Thanksgiving is Turkey Day
The majority of Americans probably don’t spend much time thinking about it. You go to the store, you find a turkey big enough to feed everyone, you make sure it gets in the oven early enough and that’s it. Maybe some households will take the time to brine the turkey. Maybe a few will experiment with the deep fryer. But beyond what culinary expertise we may or may not possess, a crucial component to the taste of our holiday bird is, well, the bird itself.
So never mind the fact that many modern turkeys have trouble walking with those big breasts, and they are genetically weak and susceptible to disease, and they only have a slight 18 weeks to reach an ample average weight of 32 pounds, the main problem is that most often we buy our turkeys frozen, and when cooked, their meat is dry and tasteless. Unfortunately, with a conventional bird there isn’t much one can do to enhance flavor, texture or freshness.
Introducing the Heritage Turkey
But despite the fact that almost all American turkeys are broad-breasted, there are farms out there that are raising other breeds. And these farms want you to bring home one of their birds.
Heritage breeds, as they are known, include such beauties as the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, Narragansett and White Holland. Heritage breed turkeys have a greater genetic diversity, which makes them sturdier and healthier. They are also typically more expensive to rear and take longer to reach optimal market weights. But many would argue that Heritage Turkeys are worth the extra effort, time and expense. When it comes to a quality Thanksgiving spread, these birds offer much better flavors and more moist and tender meat.
Experience a Quality Difference
Heritage Turkeys also offer a certain kind of peace of mind for many consumers. Heritage breeds live on smaller farms where they are free to roam, fly (though none can get too far), and eat a diet of grass and insects. And if you’re lucky enough to live in an area of the U.S. that has a farm nearby, you can also enjoy the experience of gobbling up a turkey that’s never been frozen. For many, these natural conditions just mean better food, plain and simple. And it’s hard to argue with that logic, especially after you’ve tasted it.
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