Supply of locally grown turkeys limited in Okanagan, Kamloops this year
Anyone wanting a fresh, free range turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year might want to get their orders in with local farmers while supplies last.
Karen Smith of North Valley Farm in Salmon Arm is fielding orders for her birds, with many of them already reserved since March.
“There typically isn’t enough supply to meet the demand this time of year so not everyone will get a turkey if they wait too long,” Smith said.
Peachland farmer Taryn Skalbania’s neighbours are already starting to order turkeys from her flock to adorn their Thanksgiving tables on Oct. 13. She will have enough birds for her longtime customers but not many extras.
She said this year some farmers will have less supply due to an avian flu outbreak in late winter.
“All the baby chick and turkey suppliers were coming up short because they didn’t have the birds to make the babies,” Skalbania said. “The orders had to be cut or pushed back. I know many people didn’t get their turkeys (chicks) or didn’t get them when the wanted.”
Skalbania’s own order was delayed by a month. They will still be big birds this year but not as big as usual.
While the cost of farm fresh turkeys is greater than those at grocery stores, the birds are raised more humanely than their caged counterparts and have better taste and texture. The turkeys are not injected with hormones, antibiotics or growth stimulants like many commercial birds.
“Their bones are sturdier because they’re weight bearing and not sitting in a cage all day which makes for a good broth,” Skalbania said. “They have the right ratio of fat and muscle and the meat is so much denser. Commercial birds have less dense meat, they’re very watery. So much water comes out of the animal. Mine are not, the juices stay in the bird.”
The quality of farm fresh turkey is one of the reasons Smith started raising them.
“I bought one several years ago from the grocery store and to me it tasted like cardboard,” she said. “Because my birds are running around in the sun eating natural foods they have firmer and juicier meat, it’s just better eating.”
She said the current going rate among local turkey farmers is anywhere from six to nine dollars per pound. Both Skalbania and Smith are charging six dollars per pound this year.
To compare, a Grade A fresh turkey at Real Canadian Superstore is $3.49 per pound.
“Turkey prices have gone up about ten percent at the grocery stores since all this tariff uncertainty,” Skalbania said. “My growing costs haven’t increased that much, but I’ve had to increase my prices a little bit.”
Farmers have to balance the fluctuating costs of processing and grain and any losses incurred by less predictable variables like loss to predators, avian flu and weather extremes.
“It’s a lifestyle to raise them and you have to love it,” Smith said. “There are fluctuating variables every year, but we keep our costs as low we can for our customers.”
Both farmers are passionate about raising turkeys humanely and supporting the local economy.
“Ours run around outside eating bugs and grass,” Smith said. “We do have them enclosed with netting due to predatory birds. They have a fairly large area to run around and are moved from spot to spot for fresh grass.”
Skalbania’s flock waddles around her Peachland farm.
“They’re happy and healthy and have the best life,” she said. “They have 14 acres and farm friends, and run around eating everything. Right now, my birds are running around the pasture chasing grasshoppers."
There are still birds left to order at North Valley Farms in Salmon Arm.
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