Head to head: Wild vs. supermarket turkeys
One is a product of factory farming. The other hasn't changed much since the first Thanksgiving.
Whether you like yours brined or unbrined, stuffed with cornbread or sausage, in drumstick or leftover-sandwich format, it all starts with the turkey. Today's turkey-lover has two choices: the supermarket bird, an artificially giganticized product of careful breeding and industrial farming methods, and the wild turkey, which hasn't evolved much since the first Thanksgiving. Here's a quick visual guide to help you decide which is best for you:
Sources:
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“Wild Turkey,” All About Birds/Cornell Lab of Ornithology
“A Meat Eater's Guide To Climate Change + Health,” Environmental Working Group
“Wild Turkey FAQ,” Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game
“As Six Turkeys Tussle for a Title, Degrees Challenge Pedigrees,” New York Times
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Wild Turkey listing on Dartagnan.com
“Birds on Factory Farms,” ASPCA
“Four Reasons Why Frozen Turkeys Are So Cheap,” qz.com
“Turkey Dinner's Carbon Footprint,” NPR
“Wild Game—A Healthy Choice?”, Mayo Clinic
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