Yesterday, I got an email from Farmie Market outlining the true cost of raising a pastured turkey. Here it is.
It basically says that a farmer has $53 plus labor into a farm raised turkey. These turkeys are selling for $6.25 a pound and are delivered frozen. At that price, and 18 pound turkey costs $112. That just seems excessive to me. While it is true that meat labeling has become increasingly deceptive - organic, natural, and humane all have USDA definitions that don't necessarily match Webster's - The Co Op is selling Local, Natural, Pasture Raised turkeys from Misty Knolls at $2.99 a pound. If you want to add organic from Jaindl it is $4.99 a pound. Comparing these farms isn't apples to apples especially with vague definitions of "pastured." Certainly a farmer needs to make a profit, but the price of a turkey breaking $100 just seems high. Although they must not be too high for everyone. They sold out last year.
Boutique food. If you have to ask, you can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteDave S
There is definitely some truth to that.
ReplyDeleteJon - if you ask me what we can't afford, it's attitudes like the first commenters. People pay $200/mo. for cable, $200 for cell and and then question the farmer who busts their butt to produce good food. I'm in the industry and any inkling that pasture isn't better is a lie. Any insinuation that we need industrial ag to feed the world is a bigger lie. Boutique my left foot.
ReplyDeleteI can't speak for the commenter, but I in no way shape or form meant to imply that pasture isn't better than big ag or that farmers don't deserve a good, living wage. And you have a very good point. Someone willing to complain about $4 for a dozen eggs won't think twice about spending $1.50 for a 20 ounce soda - that is wrong.
DeleteOn the flip side, at what price point does the price of a turkey become ridiculous? This Thanksgiving you could have bought a free range "heritage" turkey from D'artagnan for over $200. I find it hard to argue there isn't a boutique side to a $200+ turkey.
http://www.dartagnan.com/poultry-game-birds/Turkey,default,sc.html
I have very little farm experience. Over the last few years I do have some experience raising steer. And from that experience, the cost of these turkeys just seems very high to me. I have never visited Misty Knolls. But their poultry is always available at the Honest Weight Co-Op and it isn't cheap.
I don't know if the Honest Weight Co-Op sold out of turkeys this year (I picked up mine earlier this evening), but I believe that this farmer as well as D"artagnan have sold out their turkeys.