Organic vs. Pasture Raised vs. Honey Brook Turkeys
The grocery stores have come a long way in providing better options to customers at Thanksgiving. However, it is important to know what we are looking at. You have to inspect what you expect.
The standard Organic labeled turkey means the turkey was in a barn crowded with many other turkeys eating organic feed with no antibiotics or growth hormones. Certified Humanely Raised standards give 2-4 sq ft/turkey and Animal Welfare Approved 16 sq ft/turkey. And while organic turkeys are given access to the outdoors, it does not have to be encouraged, let alone have green grass. The label may even tout that the Organic birds are ‘free range’ or ‘cage free’. This simply means the barn raised birds are not in cages but still running around in their manure and poultry dust. Then when it comes to processing time, these Organic Turkeys are usually processed in water containing bleach & chemicals.
A Pastured Raised turkey is a turkey that was raised on pasture. A much better improvement over the free range, cage free birds. Now the pasture may be primarily dirt and the birds may be supplemented with GMO, antibiotic treated feed but because they are on pasture the birds will taste better. But I often remind customers, its not just about the taste. |