Best Places To Buy A Turkey In Minnesota
Thanksgiving will be here sooner than you think and it's time to start planning the menu. Whatever else you decide to serve on Thanksgiving, a turkey will no doubt be the main attraction. Heading to the local Cub or Costco for your bird may be the most cost-effective way to furnish a big juicy turkey, but why not try something different this year? If you have never had a free-range, organic turkey, then you have no idea what a tender treat it is. It is almost like trying an entirely different species of bird because it's so tasty. If you have tried one, then you undoubtedly will want more. These local spots are the very best places to get a high-quality turkey.
Linden Hills Co-Op
3815 Sunnyside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55410
(612) 922-1159
www.lindenhills.coop
This natural foods cooperative has been a mainstay in the Linden Hills community since 1976. Since moving off of the main street and into a larger space on Sunnyside Avenue, the co-op has grown to offer an extended selection of healthy foods, organic produce and locally raised meats. Membership at the co-op is a one-time fee of $80, but you do not have to be a member to shop there. This year, it is offering turkeys from three local farms including Larry Schultz Organic and Ferndale Farms. Prices range from $2 to $3.50 per pound and they must be pre-ordered. While you're there, you can pick up items for the rest of your meal as well.
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Clancey's Meats & Fish
4307 Upton Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55410
(612) 926-0222
www.clanceysmeats.com
Very rarely do you still see a local butcher shop where the meat selection is freshly cut and the selection changes daily. When you walk into Clancey's, a butcher stands behind the glass case full of fresh cow, lamb, fish and whatever else was delivered that morning from a local farm. Everything is sliced to order and certified organic. Grass-fed beef, free-range poultry and wild salmon are among the most popular items. The Thanksgiving turkeys can be ordered in early November and cost around $3.39 a pound.
Kramarczuk's Sausage Company, Inc.
215 E. Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-3018
www.kramarczuk.com
Although this shop specializes in sausage and baked goods, Kramarczuk's is a full-service deli, bakery and restaurant that provides food of superior quality. Founded by a couple of immigrants from the Ukraine, Kramarczuk's has become a popular destination for handmade sausages, fresh meats and delicious meals made from scratch. The turkeys available for Thanksgiving are free range and delivered from a local farm. Estimated cost this year is $3.69 a pound.
Kowalski's Markets
Various Locations
www.kowalskis.com
These Twin Cities specialty grocery markets cater to those with gourmet tastes. With nine locations throughout the Twin Cities, Kowalski's Markets are convenient for picking up a turkey with all of the fixins as well. Kowalski's meat department sells local organic meats and freshly prepared meals. If cooking is not on the agenda, Kowalski's will prepare your entire Thanksgiving meal for you, free-range turkey included.
Kadejan Farms
500 12th Ave. N.E.
Glenwood, MN 56334
(320) 634-3561
www.kadejan.com
Looking for an adventure this year? Kadejan Farms in Glenwood, Minn., is a locally owned poultry processing plant. The birds are minimally processed without any hormones or chemicals. They are free-range birds that are cleaned by hand which further removes any possible E. coli contamination. Travel to the market at Kadejan Farms for a truly rustic experience and pick out your bird on site. Turkeys range from $2 to $2.50 a pound.
Andrea Wodele is a freelance writer who has lived in the Twin Cities for eight years. She loves covering all things Minnesota and her work can be found on Examiner.com.
