Farm fresh: Where to buy a Delaware-grown turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas
If you're an avid home cook, there's something very satisfying about roasting your own turkey for the holidays.
Want to step it up a notch this year? Get a fresh Delaware-grown turkey from a local farm.
Here are some options:
Highland Orchards Farm Market
1431 Foulk Road, Brandywine Hundred; 302-478-4042; highlandorchardsfarmmarket.com/
This small, family-run fruit and vegetable farm in northern Wilmington has been growing produce for the community since 1832. It has some of the most diverse offerings for the holiday — in addition to turkeys, you can order ducks and geese — and it has one of the earliest deadlines for ordering: Thursday, Nov. 9.
Fresh (never frozen) turkeys, ducks, and geese are available along with cranberry sauce, cornbread and pies galore. Limited sizes are available for turkeys, ranging from 10 to 35 pounds. A $20 deposit is required. Ducks come in two sizes: 3 to 5 pounds or 7 to 9 pounds. A goose ranges from 8 to 14 pounds. You can order online at highlandcsa.csaware.com/store/c/holidays
Pickup at the farm is the Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Powers Farm
324 VanDyke Maryland Line Road, Townsend; 302-378-0826; thepowersfarm.com
The Powers family first began selling fresh turkeys in the early 1990s and became known as a popular spot for holiday birds in New Castle County for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They stopped selling turkeys in the early 2000s but got back into the business in 2018.
A $25 nonrefundable deposit is required when ordering a turkey. Based off of the size of the turkey ordered, the remaining balance will be due at pick up. The farm will try to be as close to the size you order as possible.
Prices are based per pound. Sizes range from small (16 pounds and under for $4.99/per pound; medium (17 to 20 pounds for $4.59/per pound); large (21 to 25 pounds for $4.29/per pound); and extra large (26 pounds and larger for $3.99/per pound.)
Pickups are the Monday and Tuesday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Wednesday (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Thanksgiving week. If you need to pick up a turkey at a different time/day, the farm can accommodate the request. Call 302-378-0826 or visit the farm's website.
T.A. Farms
4664 Mud Mill Road, Camden Wyoming; 302-492-3030; tafarms.com
T.A Farms is a fifth-generation, Kent County farm dating back to the great-grandparents of the current partners. The farm started with about 50 turkeys and a few acres and now successfully tills 1,000 acres, and raises more than 7,000 turkeys, and 3,500 chickens. They also have a cattle operation and raise pigs for the T.A. Farms market. The retail market on-site sells ground turkey, sausage, wings and more as well as cuts of lamb, beef, pork and chicken.
All turkeys and bone-in turkey breasts must be ordered ahead of time. Other meats and baked goods can be picked up when you come to get your turkey.
A 12- to 15-pound turkey is about $46; a 16- to 19-pound turkey is about $58; 20 to 23 pounds is about $72; 24 to 27 pounds is about $85; and 28 to 31 pounds is about $98. Bone-in turkey breasts range from about $36 for a 4- to 7-pound breast to $58 for an 8- to 11-pound breast.
Home delivery is available.
The Thanksgiving order form can be found at tafarms.com/thanksgiving-turkey-order-form.html
Coverdale Farm Preserve at Delaware Nature Society
543 Way Road, Greenville; 302-239-2334; delawarenaturesociety.org/centers/coverdale-farm-preserve
The Mammoth Orlopp Bronze and Standard White turkey flocks at the Delaware Nature Society's farm are raised on the 377-acre site and variations in size are natural. Birds are weighed in late October and are not processed for two weeks from that date, allowing for additional weight gain. Orders for birds are taken in weight ranges rather than the exact weight.
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There is no guarantee that a bird will be a specific weight, but Coverdale will try to accommodate a customer's preference, while supplies last. A $25 deposit is required. The cost is $7.50 per pound. Pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. At pickup, turkeys will be weighed, and customers will be charged the balance. Payment is cash, credit card, or check made payable to Delaware Nature Society.
The Market at Coverdale also will have vegetables and other seasonal fare for sale during pick-up hours.
Wright's Turkey Farm
4814 Blackwater Branch Road, Delmar; 302-846-2388
Wright's is currently taking orders for its fresh Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys. The price is $3.25/per pound based on live weights. Payment is cash or check only. Sizes available range from 18 to 20 pounds and up to 30 to 34 pounds. The farm says customers should keep in mind these are live weights, so subtract 15 to 20% for dressed oven weight. Pickup dates are Tuesday, Nov. 21 and Wednesday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Earlier dates also are available by appointment. Call 302-846-2388 to place an order or for more information and/or questions.
Visit the Wright's Turkey Farm Facebook page for updates.
Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2861 and follow her on X (Twitter) @pattytalorico Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: These Delaware farms sell locally grown turkeys for Thanksgiving
