Let these local Iowa businesses handle your Thanksgiving meal
Keep your Thanksgiving meal local this holiday season. Check out this list of businesses where you can source your turkey and other fixings for a truly delicious feast.
Arguably, the best part of the Thanksgiving holiday is gathering around the table with family and friends and enjoying a hearty meal. But before you stuff yourself silly, consider shopping local for some of the items that will grace your turkey day table.
We rounded up a list of local farms where you can snag the most popular Thanksgiving menu item, the turkey. But act fast—some of these farms sell out quickly with limited quantities. We also rustled up a few spots where you can simply swoop in and pick up a homemade meal to enjoy.
Check out the list below. You can thank us later!
Turkey
Lucky Star Farm, Iowa City
This small family farm starts their day-old turkeys indoors in the summer so that they’re ready in time for Thanksgiving. They raise two breeds: broad-breasted white (which will cost $5 per pound) and heritage (which will cost $7 per pound). You can request a bird weighing 15 to 25 pounds to be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are taken online via their website and require a $25 deposit.
Solstice Farm, Waverly
This small family farm in northeast Iowa offers a variety of products, including some smaller pasture-raised turkeys (in the 10 to 12-pound range). They charge $5.99 per pound, and turkeys can be ordered right on their website for local delivery or pick up.
Golden Prairie Turkeys, Manson
These fourth-generation farmers (who happen to be three young siblings) specialize in raising turkeys for your Thanksgiving meal each year. Turkeys (fresh, not frozen) can be purchased at West Forty Market in Ankeny and Greene, Manson Hometown Grocery, and Woods Supermarket & Deli in Pocahontas. They can also be ordered online through Choplocal.com.
They range from 10 to 18 pounds and cost about $4 per pound.
Griffieon Family Farm, Ankeny
This family has been farming in Ankeny since 1862, so they know a thing or two about raising poultry (they also raise beef, pork, and lamb). You can get a turkey for Thanksgiving for either $6.25 per pound (for birds weighing 5 to 15 pounds) or $5.90 per pound for birds weighing 16 pounds or more.
Their products can be purchased through the Iowa Food Cooperative.
Wild Rose Pastures, Van Meter
This small farm in central Iowa usually only has a few turkeys available for purchase each season. They dress out at about 10 to 19 pounds and charge $6.50 per pound. The turkeys are frozen and processed, just like you would get at a grocery store, but without any injections or added “stuff”.
The whole meal!
New Pioneer Co-op, Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids
New Pi offers a full Thanksgiving meal if you feel like hitting the easy button this holiday season. Their talented chef and pastry artists cook and bake everything from scratch so you can enjoy the best without all the mess. They also offer the option to order sides a la carte.
There are a variety of options. For instance, you can order dinner for a family of five for $100. It includes 1.5 pounds of roasted Ferndale turkey breast, 2 quarts of house-made stuffing, 1 quart of Yukon gold mashed potatoes, 1 pint of house-made turkey gravy, 1 quart of green bean casserole, 1-quart local maple pecan sweet potatoes, a half pint of organic cranberry sauce, a dozen new pie cottage or wheat dinner rolls and your choice of a house-made apple, pumpkin or vegan pumpkin pie.
Reservations can be made online (through November 20th) for their homemade Thanksgiving dinner. Check it out, and perhaps let New Pi do the cooking.
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, Cedar Rapids
The talented culinary crew at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center also offers an easy way to enjoy this holiday season with their Thanksgiving Take and Bake meals. Of course, it includes turkey and all your favorite sides, a choice of pie, and much more. The pumpkin and Dutch apple pies are hard to pass up, but the chocolate peanut butter pie sounds very tempting. They are even including a tray of cinnamon rolls to enjoy for breakfast the next day.
This meal serves four to six people and costs $129. Must be served online in advance.
Bread Garden Market, Iowa City
Located in Iowa City, this independent grocery store and market is dishing up a tempting option for Thanksgiving dinner as well. Ranging in price from $139 (if you want to heat it yourself) to $159 (for hot and ready-to-eat), their menu serves six. It includes herb-marinated turkey breast, turkey gravy, Bread Garden sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn casserole, green beans, kale salad, cranberry sauce, Hawaiian wreath roll, and your choice of apple, oatmeal, pumpkin, or pecan pie. A la carte items can be added on as well.
Orders must be placed online by November 22nd for pick up.
Gateway Market, Des Moines
This local grocer and cafe in Des Moines offers one of the most flexible holiday catering options. Whether you are feeding just a few people or a whole crew, their holiday catering menu is flexible enough to meet your carefree and tasty Thanksgiving needs. You can order full dinners or items a la carte like appetizer platters, side dishes, and baked goods.
Check out their website to print off the full catering menu that will carry you through the holidays.
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