All Turkeys are Not Created Equal

I recently took a trip to the Koch Family Farm in Tamaqua, Pa. The farm is located in the rolling hills of the Appalachian mountain range, about 2 hours from Jenkintown.  This is truly a family operation as I found out when we met our tour guide, Duane Koch. He told us the story of his father starting a small farm and how it has blossomed into what it is today. Duane along with his sisters and his parents are still actively involved in the operation. Our tour included the barns which actually house our Thanksgiving birds, the processing facility which is located right on the premises and the small retail store which sells many of their products along with local offerings such as jams, butters and baked goods. We were able to see the open pen areas in which the birds are allowed to roam freely. (They happened to be in the barns during our visit due to rainy conditions.) Our tour of the processing facility was very educational and although it was not a day when turkeys were being brought in for processing, there were birds that were now being cleaned, cut and packaged. The gentleman that led us through the plant was passionate about how these birds are handled. The facility was immaculate and under daily supervision from a federal regulatory department. Duane explained that these birds are fed a strictly vegetarian diet which is fortified with vitamins and minerals. The feed mills are located right on the farm and are filled with locally grown corn and soybean meal. Koch has received a 100% rating on Turkey Welfare and Humane practices from an independent auditor. I now understand why we get rave reviews from shoppers after they have prepared their Thanksgiving meal!