By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer
EAST MEREDITH _
While many people will be
celebrating Thanksgiving
with a turkey from a local
grocery store, others are
turning to birds from area
farmers.
Among those providing
turkeys for holiday dinner
tables is Stone & Thistle
Farm in East Meredith,
where Denise and Tom Warren
sold out of turkeys before
Tuesday. They charged
$3.75 a pound for the birds
that were slaughtered by a
crew of workers on Saturday,
Monday and Tuesday.
The farm upped its production
to 185 from 100 last
year, she said. The farm also
sells a variety of meats and
produce during the year.
People started picking
up their turkeys on Tuesday
for the holiday, she said.
This included Oneonta
resident Robert Bensen,
who said this is the seventh
year he has bought the holiday
bird at the farm.
“It has good proportions
between light and dark
meat,” he said. Fresh turkey
is not only flavorful but
also “better with leftovers,”
he said.
Buying locally is an important
part of his decision,
but he said he also feels it
is important to buy produce
and livestock raised on a
small farm during the year.
Another person who
picked up her turkey Tuesday
was “Muffy” McDowell
of East Meredith. She said
she has been coming for
five years.
“It may cost more, but you know
what you are getting,” she said, adding
that she also shops there during
the year.
One of those working on the farm
slaughtering turkeys is Jane DeWitt
of Delhi. The 32-year-old stone mason
grew up on a nearby farm. She
will receive two turkeys for her efforts,
she said.
“I see it as part of the cycle of life,”
she said about her involvement.
“I’ve challenged myself for a
couple of years to eat locally. I really
care where my food comes
from.”
Turkeys were also sold at Stony
Creek Farm in Walton. The farm
had no trouble selling its 20 turkeys,
owner Dan Marsiglio said.
The numbers were down this year
because of predators and a focus
on agri-tourism. He said he initially
planned for 60 birds on the farm
that sells a variety of meat and produce.
With more people putting an emphasis
on where their food comes
from, Marsiglio said he plans on
increasing the number of turkeys
raised for next year.
___
Mark Boshnack can be reached at
432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 218,
or at mboshnack@thedailystar.com.
