November 4, 2019 | Montpelier VT - As the Thanksgiving holiday season approaches, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) and the Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) wish to remind those planning for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that Vermont’s local turkey farms are ready to help. The time to order your local bird is now!
Vermont is home to more than a dozen turkey farms across the state, raising and producing local turkeys ready just in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. According to the National Turkey Federation, nearly 88 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving. The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 16 pounds, meaning that approximately 736 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the United States during Thanksgiving in 2016. In Vermont, nearly 48,000 turkeys and chickens were produced in 2016.
To help locate your dream bird, check out Vermont Fresh Network’s Local Turkey Finder.
“A local turkey brings great joy to family and friends. Vermont is lucky to have so many producers that provide a fresh bird each fall for the dinner table,” said VAAFM Secretary Anson Tebbetts. “We are thankful for all the farmers who feed us.”
The Vermont Fresh Network can help connect you to a local farm and farmer near you, for a fresh Thanksgiving feast for your family.
“Thanksgiving is a time for us to celebrate with our family, our friends and our farmers. A locally grown turkey and locally sourced Thanksgiving dinner offers the freshest ingredients for a truly delicious meal.” said Tara Pereira, Executive Director of the Vermont Fresh Network, “And food grown in Vermont pairs perfectly with our local wine and cider.”
Along with local turkey and produce, the Vermont Fresh Network can connect you with a local wine and cider pairing guide and a list of Vermont Thanksgiving-week farmers markets by visiting DigInVT.com - an interactive website for agricultural and culinary events and experiences in Vermont.
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Vermont Fresh Network
The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, building a strong local food system through the connections between farmers, chefs, and consumers who value their contribution to healthy communities, environment, and local economies. Since 1996, VFN has worked to ensure that the farmer-chef connection is a strong part of agricultural development and that consumers can support this work by where they choose to dine.
If you are a farmer or vendor who wishes to be part of the VFN Turkey Finder, please contact the Vermont Fresh Network to explore. For more information on Vermont Fresh Network, visit www.vermontfresh.net. Follow Vermont Fresh Network on Facebook and Instagram. Attached photo courtesy of Maple Wind Farm in Richmond, VT.
Media contacts:
Tara Pereira
Vermont Fresh Network
Executive Director
Office 802-434-2000 | Cell 802-999-6137
Scott Waterman
Policy and Communications Director | VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
802-622-4662 | scott.waterman@vermont.gov