A local livestock farmer said you can expect this week’s turkey dinner to cost you at least $7 per pound.
Local Farmer Carri Hare said rising turkey costs correlate with high production costs, as the cost to feed, labor, water and purchase turkeys all factor into the price tag. Hare said cultivation also plays a part in determining price, as different farms raise turkeys in ways that impact production costs.
“So we are making a very large investment in the purchase of the bird, the purchase of the land, the purchase of their feed,” Hare said. “And, you know, if you are not on city water, if you are on county water, it is a lot more expensive.”
Hare said labor costs increase when moving birds, as daily movement is necessary to protect pasture turkeys from predators. Hare said feed and water bills pile up, contributing to the increasing turkey costs.
“And I know that people look at the price and are probably a little taken aback by it,” Hare said. “But trust me when I tell you there’s not one farmer that’s getting rich off of these birds.”
Hare said organic, pasture-raised turkeys are priced higher, costing up to $10 a pound. Hare said organic and feed without corn or soy is priced higher, leading to the price jump.
“I know what goes into, what it takes to raise birds,” Hare said. “And I can tell you I would never go pay 10.99 for a bird, ever. I would never do that.”
Hare said properly sourcing a turkey can increase the chance of securing a high quality bird. Hare said people should support local farmers this holiday season.
“You can absolutely taste the difference, I believe you can taste the difference in how the animals have been raised” Hare said. “If they are raised the way we believe, that we’ve been asked to steward our animals, then you can definitely taste the difference in the meat.”
Hare and her husband own Pastoral Pastures, a livestock farm in Cookeville.
