Fresh whole turkey

[Robin Garr]

My point is this,if your able to appreciate the difference between a factory produced animal and one that has been raised responsibly,then you get what you pay for.

10-4.

Brad, not sure if saw the link I posted earlier....four dollar per lb.

Also you stated...."I'm pretty sure the cost differential of, say, mass-produced chicken and the free-range chicken I get at Bardstown Road isn't that great"

I took Brad's statement to mean that the % increase for farm turkey vs factory turkey is much greater than % increase for farm chicken vs factory chicken.

Chicken at Kroger = $2 lb
Chicken at Farmers market = $3lb

That is only 50% more vs the 300% or 400% increase on turkey.

Ok I can see that. I read it differently. Im not sure about the percentages you speak of though. Steve P got a bird for just under two bucks a pound,I gave a source for birds around four bucks. Double for sure but not 400 percent. Again,back to my point...even if it is a 400 percent increase,why would you feel this is not justified? Nobody is making you go to the farmers market and buy a local craft produced piece of meat. Im not seeing the connection to price gouging. Its very simple,if the cost vs value does not make sense for you,dont buy it. I think its in poor taste to go around screaming"price gouging" when a particular item you want is priced out your perceived value range.

EDIT to remove inflammatory a-hole remark

I step away for 12 hours, and.......

I was merely posing questions. Justin nailed what I was getting at. I wasn't screaming price gouging with regards to local farmers vs. mass-produced stuff. I was questioning whether, with regards to turkey, at Thanksgiving, prices were artifically inflated. And it's not as simple as "if the cost vs. value does not make sense." I'm trying to inquire if the cost is fair for the market, taking into account production costs, overhead, economies of scale, etc. Please don't portray me as "screaming price gouging when a particular item you want is priced out (sic) your perceived value range." I clearly stated earlier that I have NO experience with turkeys in this area, and was seeking an education, not a scolding.

And it only increases my, er, misunderstanding, that one local farm offers fresh whole turkey at $2.59/lb, another offers it at $7.00/lb, and others fall in the middle of that range.

Anybody want to borrow one of my shotguns. Cheap eats.

I step away for 12 hours, and.......

I was merely posing questions. Justin nailed what I was getting at. I wasn't screaming price gouging with regards to local farmers vs. mass-produced stuff. I was questioning whether, with regards to turkey, at Thanksgiving, prices were artifically inflated. And it's not as simple as "if the cost vs. value does not make sense." I'm trying to inquire if the cost is fair for the market, taking into account production costs, overhead, economies of scale, etc. Please don't portray me as "screaming price gouging when a particular item you want is priced out (sic) your perceived value range." I clearly stated earlier that I have NO experience with turkeys in this area, and was seeking an education, not a scolding.

Fair enough.
I was merely posing questions as well.
Sorry, for the implied assholeishness of my statements. Im glad that you are a least making to effort to buy something thats raised local. To answer your question "I'm trying to inquire if the cost is fair for the market, taking into account production costs, overhead, economies of scale, etc." I would offer the answer ,yes. If they sell out at that price then the price is fair.
As to your other issue relating to "price gouging" you stated this "begs the question of whether the local folks are jacking up prices BECAUSE it's for a holiday meal that comes once a year. I'm not a fan of price gouging, regardless of who is doing the gouging."
To me that seemed to imply you thought there was a distinct possibility you might be a victim of price gouging(enough so you said it "begged" the question) by local farmers at your local markets due in part to a seasonal demand for a product. I take offense at this, as Im sure you do when you hear people give lawyers a bad rap with out justification.

And it only increases my, er, misunderstanding, that one local farm offers fresh whole turkey at $2.59/lb, another offers it at $7.00/lb, and others fall in the middle of that range.

This goes back to my original question....why do you find it confusing or leading to a misunderstanding, if different varieties of meat have different prices. Ill give the example of bourbon again, would you ever think that all bourbons should be the same or even remotely similarly priced? Why is meat any different? Simple things like the type of feed for an animal,variety of bird,processing methods all effect the producers cost. Another example could be hogs. Its much cheaper to finish them on spent brewers waste than acorns. The end result in the quality of the meat is incredibly different,ask anyone who has enjoyed a fine black Spanish ham. I just cant understand this disconnect when it come to meat.

why do you find it confusing or leading to a misunderstanding, if different varieties of meat have different prices. Ill give the example of bourbon again, would you ever think that all bourbons should be the same or even remotely similarly priced? Why is meat any different? Simple things like the type of feed for an animal,variety of bird,processing methods all effect the producers cost. Another example could be hogs. Its much cheaper to finish them on spent brewers waste than acorns. The end result in the quality of the meat is incredibly different,ask anyone who has enjoyed a fine black Spanish ham. I just cant understand this disconnect when it come to meat.

There is apparently a general lack of education when it comes to "craft" poultry. I think people are aware of the differences in beef/pork/lamb breeds and the various processes that add value before market. I, and I'm guessing others, view poultry as a low cost meat and don't view it the same way as beef/pork/lamb. It is easy to see the price difference in Wagyu/Kobe beef or Berkshire pork vs. factory beef and pork, but there is a lack of info or interest in poultry. Maybe you need to write a little article about it, there is apparently some interest.

http://www.burgersmarketlouisville.com/

Burgers Market is selling free range, organic, fresh turkeys.

Call early to place your order! 454-0461

They also are selling the whole meal.


Included in this fabulous meal:


■A succulent fresh 12-14 pound turkey
■3 pints green beans
■3 pints mashed or sweet potatoes
■3 pints homemade stuffing
■3 pints turkey giblet gravy
■1 pint cranberry relish

The cost is only $74.00 and will feed 8-10 people generously.

interesting article about the cost of locally-raised meat

Thanks to Justin for the best line of the week (and maybe the whole year).........."Craft Poultry".

Thanks to Justin for the best line of the week (and maybe the whole year).........."Craft Poultry".

You too huh ?

Thanks to Justin for the best line of the week (and maybe the whole year).........."Craft Poultry".

The 2010 three most overused/abused words in the English dictionary:

1) Green
2) Artisan
3) Craft

Just sayin'.

I originally used the term "craft poultry" somewhat tongue in cheek, but after the somewhat snarky replies I kind of like the term. Craft is a term, that when use correctly, has merit. Organic, free range, humanly raised poultry is "craft" by definition. Any schmuck can raise a chicken, brew a beer, or distill a whiskey, but it takes true skill and attention to do it right. To not have a distinction between good and bad, definitions aside, doesn't fly. When something is better because of the skill, care, and attention put in during the production process, it is special. You can call it whatever you like, I'm calling it craft.

I originally used the term "craft poultry" somewhat tongue in cheek, but after the somewhat snarky replies I kind of like the term.

Yo Justin. Chill my brutha...Those weren't snarky comments. Curmudgeonly? Yes. Snarky? No. Toughen up bro.

...Any schmuck can raise a chicken, brew a beer, or distill a whiskey, but it takes true skill and attention to do it right.

Ya see Justin, this is where I have "disconnect" with a lot of this stuff...because there ARE a lot of "schmucks" out there in the world who are raising chickens and brewing beer and maybe even distilling whiskey who call their product "craft" or "artisan" when in fact they don't know their ass from apple butter.

There is no need to chill. I wasn't worked up at all. Your comments just made me look at my comments differently. I was semi-making fun of the term "craft poultry", but your disdain of the use of craft made me rethink my opinion. The bird that Brad is looking for and John is so passionate about can easily be called craft.

Yes, the terms craft and artisan get abused, but those abusing the term will be outed. Those who are using the term and actually producing a craft/superior product will rise to the top. To abandon the search for a better/craft product because of fakes is not fair to those doing it the right way.