Serenity Kids Free Range Turkey with Organic Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, & Beet

Sourcing

Ferndale Market

About 45 minutes south of the Twin Cities, you'll find Ferndale Market, our pasture-raised turkey farm. 'œDale Peterson, our grandfather, started our farm in 1939. He had studied poultry science in college and was looking for a location that was ideally suited for raising turkeys outdoors. He found that land in the rolling hills of the Little Cannon River Valley. Shortly after, Dale married Fern, and together they fostered our family farm, which still proudly bears their name,' says Katie Peterson, Ferndale Market's Marketing and Communications Manager (and third generation) at Ferndale Market. 80+ years later, the faces on the farm may have changed (the farm is now managed by second and third generations), but a lot looks the same-the turkeys are still raised free-range and without the use of antibiotics.

The turkeys at Ferndale Market have the life; once the birds are old enough to move outdoors, they spend their days exploring and taking in the fresh air and are moved weekly to fresh green grass, along with their shelters, water, and feed. 'œWe believe that our model is the best one for our turkeys, our land, and our farm staff. We are proud to continue growing our turkeys outdoors, long after most folks have moved away from free-ranging poultry; we're fortunate to have a farm that's well suited for pasturing our birds,' says Peterson; 'œagriculture has become so consolidated that it's harder than ever for small family farms to survive'¦knowing where our food comes from and supporting independent farmers is important to us.'

A couple fun facts: 1) Ferndale Market takes pride in hosting a big farm tour day each year in July where guests at the farm can go on hayrides, learn about the farm's history, and get a behind the scenes look at their entire operation. 2) John (third-generation farmer, general manager, and Katie's brother) has been writing a monthly From Your Farmer update where you can learn all about the farm's happenings. Get social with Ferndale Market here.