It might seem a little early to think about Thanksgiving turkey, but Andrew Carlson started in April.
That's when the eggs are out of the breeders. We need to get them early to be able to have the full amount of time to grow the turkey out, especially the heritage turkey. The grow-out time is much longer than a regular turkey.
Carlson owns Central Coast Products in Turlock. It specializes
in organic poultry, and now heritage turkeys. Heritage birds have
more dark meat. They're usually raised without industrialized
practices. For the right lead time, Carlson counts backwards 8
months from Thanksgiving, and 8 months again from Christmas. Within
that time frame, they grow at their own pace.
Because that's what the turkey tells us to do. We
don't tell the turkey what to do. That way it's the proper size
when Thanksgiving rolls around.
Heritage turkeys are only a small trend. Because they're more
expensive to raise, they can cost more than $100. Elaine Corn,
Capital Public Radio News.