For many of us, turkey is a once-a-year treat reserved for the holidays. But more people are discovering you can enjoy quality turkey any time – you just have to know where to look. This guide will explore how to source delicious whole turkeys throughout the year.
The Turkey Availability Conundrum
Turkey technically can be purchased year-round but it does get trickier once you move past the holidays. Here are some of the hurdles to sourcing birds in the off-season
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** Limited grocery selection:** Many grocers only stock whole frozen turkeys around Thanksgiving and Christmas when demand peaks. Selection is sparse the rest of the year.
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Seasonal fresh turkey Fresh never-frozen turkeys are mainly available a few weeks before Thanksgiving, Quality local birds are hard to find other times
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Higher prices: Out-of-season turkey tends to be pricier since supplies are lower. Great sales around the holidays vanish by January.
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Lack of variety Whole birds, sizes and specialty breeds are easier to find during peak turkey season. Selection shrinks drastically afterward.
While less convenient, getting turkey year-round is doable with a bit of preparation and an open mind. Let’s look at some strategies to enjoy turkey anytime.
Grocery Stores – Hit or Miss
Grocery stores can be hit-or-miss for finding turkey year-round. Here are some tips for the best luck:
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Check the freezer section for whole frozen birds. Larger chains may have them stocked routinely.
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Ask the butcher counter if they can special order a fresh turkey for you. Give them a few days lead time.
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Shop at higher-end grocers like Whole Foods which may have better year-round selection.
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Check inventory regularly as random shipments of fresh turkeys may come in. Grab them when you see them.
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Buy turkey parts like breasts and thighs when whole birds are unavailable.
While finding whole turkeys can be tricky, you can usually locate some turkey options at larger grocery stores if you persist and get a bit creative.
Local Butcher Shops – Your Best Bet
For the widest selection of whole turkeys year-round, independent butcher shops are your best resource. Here’s why:
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Special orders: Butchers can order fresh, high-quality turkeys just for you, even when not in stock.
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Relationships with farms: They work directly with poultry farms to bring in specialty seasonal birds.
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More size options: You can customize your turkey size precisely for your gathering.
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Turkey know-how: Butchers are experts on selecting the ideal turkey for your needs.
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Competitive pricing: Prices may be better than grocers on custom cut turkey.
Developing a relationship with a butcher can ensure you’ve got a fresh turkey on hand whenever a craving strikes.
Online Mail Order – Delivered to Your Door
Opening up your search online makes finding turkey easy year-round. Here are the perks of online ordering:
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Huge selection: From heritage breeds to wild turkeys, you’ll discover more options browsing online.
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Convenience: No searching from store to store for what you want. Turkeys are delivered to your doorstep.
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Availability: Online retailers source turkeys steadily all year from various farms and locations.
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Order exactly what you need: Get a specific turkey size, quantity, breed, fresh vs. frozen, etc.
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Savings: Online prices might be lower on hard-to-find turkey varieties.
Companies like Don’s Meats, Porter Road, and Holy Grail Steak Co offer quality turkeys online all year. For maximum convenience, browse their selections.
Farmers Markets – Check for Local Birds
When they are in season, farmers markets can be a festive place to hand pick a pasture-raised turkey. Tips for success:
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Ask vendors in advance if they will have turkeys and when.
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Expect the best selection before Thanksgiving, but some may have them other times.
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Choose smaller markets focused on poultry and meat. Farmers with chicken likely have turkeys too.
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Arrive early for the best selection. Turkeys sell out fast!
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Expect to pay premium prices for the highest quality.
With some effort and luck, farmers markets can connect you to deliciously fresh local turkeys.
Think Beyond Thanksgiving
While it may seem counterintuitive, consider purchasing a few whole turkeys right after Thanksgiving when prices drop drastically. Even better discounts can be found post-Christmas. Then stock your freezer so you have turkey on hand all winter and spring. You’ll save big bucks compared to out-of-season costs.
You can also find great markdowns on turkey parts like breasts to use in recipes year-round after the holidays.
Get Your Gobble On, Anytime
Hopefully you now have plenty of tips for bringing home a turkey with ease, whether it’s June, October or March. With advanced planning and a willingness to go beyond the grocery store, you can feast on turkey whenever the craving strikes.
Experiment with turkeys of different sizes, types and quality levels. Find the best sources that meet your needs. Soon you’ll be enjoying tender, juicy turkey fare all year long.
“If you have the freezer space, go ahead and buy that turkey because a frozen turkey is gonna be just as wholesome and delicious as a fresh turkey any time of year,” said Ashley Kohls.
Turkey prices have decreased since 2022 as cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza were down significantly.Courtesy / Pixabay
As you sit down this week for Thanksgiving dinner, one thing for which to be thankful may be the lower cost of the turkey on the table.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation , the average price for an 8- to 16-pound turkey — the size typically served for Thanksgiving — was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, 22% lower than the same time last year.
Ashley KohlsContributed / Minnesota Turkey Growers Association
The price drop is due largely to a decrease in cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza — also referred to as HPAI, “high path,” avian flu or bird flu. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines HPAI as a strain of H5N1 which can spread rapidly and is frequently fatal to commercially farmed birds. When it is confirmed in a flock, all the remaining birds at the site must be depopulated and the site quarantined, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. This quarantine can sometimes take up to four months before a bird can be reintroduced to the flock.
Minnesota leads the nation in turkey production, and Ashley Kohls, executive director for Minnesota Turkey, said HPAI cases dropped off to nothing after December 2022, though recent cases started popping up again in October 2023. However, the largely normal year allowed turkey producers to “normalize”
“There are plenty of turkeys for folks who are interested in serving turkey to their family Thanksgiving, although we do encourage folks to to serve turkey year-round, not just at Thanksgiving,” she said. “As you approach your Thanksgiving shopping list or any holiday shopping list, you know, turkey tends to be a loss-leader for grocery stores to entice folks to do all of their holiday grocery shopping at that specific grocery store. And so if you go to into a grocery store today, youre gonna see bins full of frozen turkeys at a very, very reasonable cost.”
Kohls encourages stocking up at those sales.
“If you have the freezer space, go ahead and buy that turkey because a frozen turkey is gonna be just as wholesome and delicious as a fresh turkey any time of year,” she said.
Kohls said cooking a “whole bird” can be intimidating for some people, and alternatives include a bone-in or boneless turkey breast, which she said are “really good alternatives.”
Attract Deer and Turkey All Year to Your Food Plots (696)
FAQ
Can you buy turkey all year?
Are turkeys available all year?
Can you buy turkey when its not Thanksgiving?
How late can you buy a turkey?
Should you buy a frozen turkey?
Which one you buy depends largely on your schedule. If you want to shop well before the holiday and have the time to thaw a bird, then frozen is just fine. But a truly fresh turkey, never frozen, often tastes just a smidge better. Last of all, and probably the most complicated, is which type of turkey to buy.
Should you buy a fresh turkey?
The primary benefit of buying a fresh turkey is that you don’t need to account for any thawing time. However, since fresh turkeys are well, not frozen, they don’t keep for nearly as long as their colder counterparts.
What size Turkey should I buy?
If this is the first time you’re buying the Thanksgiving turkey, here are things to keep in mind when thinking about what size turkey to buy. Amount per person: Generally you will need 1 pound of bone-in turkey per person, or 1 1/2 pounds if you want enough for leftovers.
What kind of Turkey should I buy?
Classic Turkeys: These tasty, tender turkeys are a great choice for value, quality and flavor. Organic Turkeys: These birds receive organic, non-GMO feed and have specific requirements for the amount of access to the outdoors. If you’re looking to try something different this year, don’t miss our assortment of unique, special birds.