Wow, it’s that time again. Really. Because if you want a turkey from Ray the Butcher, tomorrow is the deadline!
I tried to buy a turkey to cook for this week’s column and can tell you that until next week when Cooper’s gets in an order placed yesterday, there ain’t any turkeys in Revelstoke. Not of the eating variety, at any rate.
TURKEY TIMETABLE
| Date | Supplier in Revelstoke | Type of turkey |
| Nov 28 | Deadline for ordering a turkey from Ray the Butcher. | JD Farms4-6 kilos5-7 kilos 7-9 kilos 9-11 limited availability |
| Nov 28 | Tim Dolan accepting turkey orders | JD Farms |
| Dec 6 | Some frozen turkeys available from Southside Groceries and Coopers | Lilydale, some Butterballs |
| Dec 15 | Large order of frozen turkeys arrive at Coopers | Lilydale |
| Dec 18 | Fresh turkeys available at Coopers | Lilydale |
| Dec 20 | Fresh turkeys available at Southside | Lilydale |
| Dec 21 | Fresh turkeys from Tim Dolan Dolan Home Delivery 250-804-3474 | JD Farms |
| Dec 23 | Start thawing your frozen turkey | |
| Dec 24 | Make the stuffing: See Savage Delights November 29 | |
| Dec 25 | Enjoy a great holiday dinner! | |
TURKEY BRAND INFORMATION
JD Farms, a family operation, raise specialty turkeys in Langley, BC and advertise grain-fed, antibiotic-free turkeys raised in well-ventilated barns. The print on their web site the Canadian Government regulations re turkey production; see www.jdfarms.ca.
In Revelstoke, Ray the Butcher next door to La Baguette and Tim Dolan (tim@dolanhomedelivery.com) provide JD Farms turkeys. Grain-fed means no animal by-products are used in the feed. This is a government regulated industry—see the JD Farm “Speciality Turkey” link under “About JD Farms” for more information.
Coopers will provide organic hormone-free turkeys on special order with 2 weeks notice, and although they can’t specify where these come from, my guess is that thy would be from JD Farms.
Lilydale is a cross-Canada producer of turkey. They buy from numerous farms and process turkeys in Abbottsford and Calgary, among other places. Turkeys are given small amounts of antibiotics when young, which according to their PR office dissipate by the time the turkeys come to market. They receive no hormone treatments and are all-grain-fed. Lilydale inspectors monitor government regulations in all farms. Turkeys sold in BC likely are raised in BC or Alberta, but Lilydale cannot guarantee this.
