We are posting this week’s Lewis Waite Farm CSA Extras newsletter so you can learn all about and ORDER your holiday turkey via Sunnyside CSA. As you may know, we work with Lewis Waite to provide you with fresh local products beyond veggies and LWF is proud to offer you locally raised, all natural turkeys again this year!
ORDER DEADLINES
Stonewood Farm
All Natural Turkeys
DEADLINE: Thursday, November 14th
Coldwater Creek Farm & Homestead Farm
Pastured Turkeys
DEADLINE: Monday, November 18th
First time ordering? Follow our ordering instructions.
In this Newsletter
-Thanksgiving Turkeys + FAQs
-How to Defrost Your Turkey
Thanksgiving Turkeys
Stonewood Farm: $4.39/lb
Stonewood Farm specializes in premium quality turkeys with superior flavor and juiciness that can only be grown in Vermont. They grow their turkeys naturally; no antibiotics or growth hormones. Plenty of fresh Vermont air, cool nights, good feed and tender loving care on their family farm make for a wonderfully juicy turkey. They raise their turkeys for your family without any artificial ingredients inside large, open-sided barns. They are processed on the farm in their USDA facility without any preservatives. Paul Stone was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Vermont and now his son Peter is taking a leading role on the farm. Sample the flavor by ordering All Natural turkey parts before the big day!
Coldwater Creek Farm and Homestead Farm Turkeys: $6.39/lb
Both Farms allow the turkeys free-range to enjoy life in the pastures. Movable fencing allows them to bring their turkeys into areas that have a high insect or weed population. Many people enjoy the gregarious personalities of our turkeys. As with our other poultry, the turkeys receive antibiotic-free and hormone-free feed containing no animal byproducts. They thrive in their natural environment producing a turkey that they have been told “is the best we’ve ever had.” They will be processed by Garden of Spices Farm in Easton, NY. We are never sure of the quantities or weights until they arrive (they guess 13-26 lbs), so please give us an indication of your desired size when you order. We have a limited supply, so get your order in early.
FAQs
How much do I need? We recommend 1 lb. per person for the meal, but don’t forget to plan for turkey sandwiches, turkey tetrazzini, and turkey soup (usually 4-5 lbs)! Larger birds have a higher meat to bone ratio, so you may need slightly more per person for small birds than larger ones.
When will it come to Sunnyside CSA? It will be there on Thursday, November 21st
What other local products can I get? Our entire list of family farm and artisan products is available to help keep your holiday meal locally sourced. Putney Mountain Sparkling Ciders, lots of local cheeses, cranberry sauce, grains and beans for side dishes, bread, etc. After you’ve added your turkey to the shopping cart, you can keep shopping, or check out and return at a later date to EDIT your existing Turkey order. Be sure to pay attention to the DELIVERY DATE of your order.
How do I order? Login to Lewis Waite Farm. If you do not have a profile, read our login instructions.
Make sure you get an email confirmation of your order! If you didn’t get one, we didn’t get your order either!
Questions? Call: 518-692-3120 or Send an email
How to Defrost Your Turkey
The USDA has specific instructions, read up!
“The Big Thaw”
Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during “the big thaw.” While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again.
A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the “Danger Zone” between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly.
There are two safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator and in cold water – we do not recommend Microwaves.
Safe Methods for Thawing
Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basement, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored. There is a danger that the outside will warm to above 40 while the interior is still frozen.
Refrigerator Thawing
When thawing a turkey in the refrigerator:
Plan ahead: allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below.
Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods.
Refrigerator Thawing Times
Whole turkey:
4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days
A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.
Cold Water Thawing
Allow about 30 minutes per pound.
First be sure the turkey is in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and to prevent the turkey from absorbing water, resulting in a watery product.
Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.
Cold Water Thawing Times
4 to 12 pounds — 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds — 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds — 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds — 10 to 12 hours
A turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.
Questions? Call: 518-692-3120 or Send an email