Cooking your goose
If your family hopes to roast a bird for Christmas dinner, you might have some options beyond the freezer case full of supermarket turkeys.
A few local farms and stores sell other options that could inject variety into your holiday meal, including both fresh and frozen birds — and not just turkey. Some places even sell capons, goose, pheasant, duck and partridge for the adventurous home chef.
Locally raised farm birds
David Jones Farm: The farm in Cabot is running a special on Christmas turkeys. The usual price of $3.25 per pound has been dropped to $2.50. All turkeys by this time of the year are sold frozen.
Mr. Jones raises about 4,000 free-roaming turkeys and chickens per year, although “almost all of them are eaten by now,” he said. He’s been in business for about 25 years, with larger production in the past 10 years.
Most people will pick up turkeys on Dec. 18 and 19 to have ample time to thaw them, but he’ll sell them even closer to Christmas for those who wish to thaw their birds in water baths.
To order: 724-352-2450. For information: jones turkey farm.
Heritage Farm: Pete and Tara Burns’ farm is two hours from Pittsburgh to the northeast in Ridgway — but the farm offers home delivery in Pittsburgh. The Burnses still have frozen chickens and a few turkeys, although most of the turkeys were sold for Thanksgiving. They also raise pork and lamb and sell eggs and homecanned and home-baked goods. Meat is processed right on the farm “in a humane way,” Pete Burns said, noting it’s all GMO free and pasture-raised.
Deliveries are made to the north and east suburbs on alternating weeks, as noted on a calendar on the farm’s website. Customers can also pick up birds at the farm. To order: burnsheritagefarm.com.
J.L. Kennedy Meat Stand: John and Valarie Kennedy and their three children — Jacob, Taylor and Mayson — farm more than 400 acres next to Mars High School “in suburban sprawl,” Mrs. Kennedy said.