Organic turkeys fly off the shelves

Sterling, Conn. (WTNH) - The push for locally grown foods is making its way into many Thanksgiving day feasts this year.

A new state inspection program is allowing more locally grown turkeys to reach more tables.

Farm fresh and organically grown are buzz words heard more and more among those preparing their Thanksgiving feasts.

"It's really important to us, said Desiree Champagne. "Our family only eats meat that comes from local farms."

Bill Sokol from Hidden Brook Gardens in Ledyard agreed, saying, "It's fresher, tastes better, and if you're into the organic thing I think it's better for you."

A new state inspection program allows turkeys to fly onto more tables this holiday season.

Rick Hermonot from Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm says business is up 25% thanks to the new state program which follows USDA standards.

"We send out all our turkeys for Thanksgiving fresh, they never were frozen," Hermonot said.

He now raises 3,000 turkeys, a thousand more birds than last year.

"Our payroll is up about 25% this year too, which is kind of neat. In an economy like we're in, it's good to see that we can add jobs," said Hermonot.

With the state's sanitary stamp of approval, farmers can now sell to restaurants and institutions. They can't sell to stores, but they can sell their organic birds through shops, like Saugautck Craft Butchery in Westport, on a consignment basis, expanding their customer base to Fairfield county and beyond.

"That's a side benefit to it," Hermonot said. "Just the attention and credibility it brings our farm."

Even though this is when Ekonk Hill sells about 90% of its turkeys, they sell them year round. They have 300 birds left for Christmas dinners.