Lewes Farmers Market - Turkeys

Every year around this time there is a debate raging in many households about what to eat on Christmas Day. If you are still a turkey family, one option is to pre-order your bird from Martin Vine at the Lewes Farmers Market. Martin, who sells chicken and lamb at the market every month, rears 300 turkeys every year in his farm in Heathfield. “They are delivered by Kelly Turkeys in Essex as one-day-old colts in July,” he says. “They are of the Kelly Bronze breed, which is a mixture between the modern bird and the old fashioned black-feathered turkey. The former was developed in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s to produce more meat, but had a blander taste. The latter is a much tastier option, but produces less breast meat. These turkeys are black-feathered, but they have a sheen to them, hence their name.”

The turkeys are slaughtered and plucked in the second week of December, and left to hang for ten days. “This breaks the enzymes down and increases the flavour,” says Martin. Then they are trussed and sold. “They will have had a longer life than supermarket birds,” he says. “And they have been fed on additive free feed with no antibiotics or growth enhancers in a barn with natural daylight and ventilation.” They cost more than supermarket turkeys - a 30lb bird will set you back £50 - but you can rest assured that they’ll taste better. Pre-ordering on Saturday ensures delivery (if you live in Lewes) on the 23rd or 24th. DL