Tri-State Area Customers Flock To Markets, Farms For Fresh Produce, Turkeys

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Let the Thanksgiving feast preparations begin!

Tuesday is the busiest day of the year at the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market in the Bronx.

WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reports

All day, retail distributors have been picking up vegetables and fruit for city supermarkets, greengrocers, retail outlets and restaurants.

"We've been working since two in the morning," Jose Pina told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.

Director Myra Gordon said the produce from the market reaches 1 in 4 tables in the New York City area.

"We supply 30 million pounds of produce today -- maybe three times the amount of a normal day," Denise Goodman, of M&R Tomato Distributors said.

The best-selling item: sweet potatoes.

Joel Ferlman said he moved more than 160,000 pounds of sweet potatoes this week alone.

"Everybody wants a sweet potato for Thanksgiving," he said.

At the Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff, N.J., customers lined up to personally pick out the star for their Thanksgiving feast.

"I don't like the thought of thawing something out and then cooking it," one woman said.

Manager Stacy LaManna has been taking turkey orders for weeks.

"Strange request for a live turducken, which does not exist," she said. "I was completely mortified. They think it's a cross breed between a turkey, duck and chicken."

1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports

Many customers shared recipes with each other while waiting in line to pick up their birds.

"Just put butter, a little olive oil and Lawry's seasoning," one woman said."Keeping it simple is the best way."

Another customer said he likes to soak the turkey in an apple cider brine.

"It just keeps it more moist, you don't have to worry about basting it," he said.

LaManna said the farm has something for everyone, including a raw diet pet food for your furry friends.

"It's made here on the premises, it's made with turkey and chicken. It's all ground and put into five ounce patties," she said.