Two steps forward, one back. What we're waiting for is a time when there are enough Heritage Turkey growers, small farmers and others, that these traditional strains can "take off" and be broadly available in the retail marketplace to ordinary customers.
Good news: Frank Reese in Kansas has the finest flocks of real Heritage Turkeys anywhere in the world. He has been selecting his turkeys for size and commercial viability for many years, continuing the work of Norman Kardosh in preserving the best surviving flock of Heritage Bronze turkeys (sometimes called Standard Bronzes or American Bronzes, NOT "Heirloom Turkeys".) Frank Reese, associated farmers, and a few others, also have very good Bourbon Red Heritage Turkeys, Spanish Blacks, and other breeds.
More farmers beyond Kansas have access to Frank's turkeys than ever before. For example, Mary's Turkeys is raising Reese turkeys and selling them primarily in California, Colorado and Texas. Reese turkeys do not have the size problem that we ran into before. If you want a 20-pound turkey, you will be able to get one.
The bad news: A brooder accident in Kansas resulted in the death of many baby turkeys. This was a one-time catastrophe but it illustrates the need to have Reese turkey brooding hens in more locations across the US.
We firmly believe that Heritage turkeys should be available to the public at reasonable prices. They will still cost much more than laboratory turkeys, but we believe that an ordinary family of limited means can afford to buy a Heritage turkey for, say, $4 - $7 per dressed pound. It's a once-a-year expense for a very special product, and it makes it possible for small turkey farmers to stay in business selling them, as well as encouraging new farmers to grow them. Remember, we are trying to restore to commercial viability, breeds that nearly became extinct just a few years ago.
For prices to be reasonable, turkeys need to be delivered by truck to grocery chains and individual stores. This is much less expensive than individual shipment to individual families. Heritage Foods, USA, (www.HeritageFoodsUSA.com) does ship to individual customers, but at a much higher price.
The US has the most efficient food-distribution system in the world. Food prices are very low in the US compared to other countries. The difficulty raised by this is that true flavor for many foods has been lost. Food animal production is done by the cheapest possible methods, which are not kind to animals. This is not true for Heritage turkeys.
Retail grocers are used to buying from large corporate farms in large quantities. These corporate producers can supply exactly what grocers want at a rock bottom price. Only about 20,000 Heritage turkeys could be produced in 2010 for the entire US. Compare this to more than 230,000,000 laboratory turkeys. Many grocers and consumers who wanted Heritage birds aren't able to buy them.
Carrying Heritage turkeys has been difficult for grocers. Many customers have been disappointed when they couldn't get the largest turkeys they were looking for. Employees in grocery meat departments haven't been properly trained by their meat buyers in the sizes of Heritage turkeys available. Many customers have complained to retailers. Some chains have dropped Heritage turkeys, and some have never been willing to deal with these problems in the first place..
If you should find a retail grocery chain which is selling real Heritage turkeys, such as Vitamin Cottage in Colorado or Shopper's Corner in Santa Cruz, California, please be patient with the grocer. He's doing you a favor--taking a commercial chance--selling real Heritage Turkeys at all! Please tell him you understand and appreciate his help to our efforts!