Lots of supermarkets will sell you a Thanksgiving turkey loaded up with fat and brine in the San Francisco Bay Area for as little as $0.50 per pound. Imagine getting a 20-pound turkey for $10!
While you can spend a tiny amount on a turkey, one California farm is going in another direction. They’re selling Thanksgiving turkeys that go for as much as $182. And that’s the price for a raw turkey; you still have to cook the thing!
Despite their high price, these turkeys are totally worth it. They are the best Thanksgiving turkey you can get in the San Francisco area–even if you have to spend an arm and a drumstick to get one.
Let’s take a look at this California farm and its lavish turkeys.
200-year-old Turkeys
Diestel Farm is a family farm based in Sonora, California. For generations, they’ve been raising turkeys that haven’t changed much since the American Revolution.
They still sell heirloom birds that are based on the original breeds that roamed North America at the time of the original Thanksgiving. They raise their turkeys in humane conditions, often with free-ranging and organic feed.
Each Thanksgiving, they sell thousands of these turkeys, either fresh or frozen, all over the Bay Area. In a time when many companies are trying to sell turkey for as little as possible, and injecting it with all kinds of fillers to make it palatable, the farm doesn’t have to do that.
Their turkeys taste delicious, because they’re raised in traditional ways, and they are heirloom breeds that were bred for tastiness rather than shelf life and industrial farming.
My Diestel Turkeys
I’ve been cooking these turkeys for my family for Thanksgiving for years now. They can be hard to find, especially if you get right into the holiday. Your best bet is often to get a frozen one several days in advance of Thanksgiving, and make sure to thaw it thoroughly before you cook it.
The good news is that cooking a Diestel turkey is super easy. You don’t have to use a lot of lavish seasonings, because the meat is so flavorful and juicy in a natural way. I essentially stick my turkey in the oven at 350°, baste it every half hour, and check it until it’s done.
That’s really all there is to it. A little salt and maybe some butter on the outside makes it even tastier.
A Pricey Turkey
The only real downside with these turkeys is the expense. Diestel’s turkeys are not cheap, since they have to be raised on pastureland, and with such great stewardship. An organic Diestel turkey that weighs 20 pounds can cost you as much as $182.
I usually opt for a non-organic turkey of around 12 pounds, which will generally cost you closer to $50-$60. They still sell a variety of specialty turkeys, too. The farm’s true American Heirloom breeds can go for as much as $208 for a 20-pound bird.
If you want something a little bit less pricey, or you have a smaller family, you can get turkey breasts too. Diestel also sells petite turkeys, smoked turkeys, brined turkeys, and other special options round out their offerings.
If you want to invest in one of these delicious turkeys this Thanksgiving, you can find them at Whole Foods Markets and other specialty stores around the Bay Area.
Happy Thanksgiving, we hope you enjoy the holiday, no matter what kind of bird you end up eating.
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