Thanksgiving

Photo by: Grey Scale

Given the upcoming holiday we will focus on the turkey, the cornerstone of the Thanksgiving meal.  It is estimated that in 2008 the United States will produce 271 million turkeys.  Of these, 45 million will be eaten over this holiday weekend.  The states of Minnesota, North Carolina, Missouri, Virginia, Arkansas and California produce 175 million of the 271 million birds mentioned.  Purchasing a turkey from a locally grown source will help curb the massive transportation miles that accumulate shipping turkeys to markets across the country.

When selecting your locally grown turkey, check your labels carefully.  A USDA Organic label means that your turkey was likely able to wander (“free range”) and wasn’t fed hormones or synthetic feed grown with pesticides and fertilizers that can be harmful to the human body.  Purchasing an organic turkey this year will help ensure that more turkeys will be produced in a more humane way next year.

As we give thanks, the team at Sustainable Home Styles extends heartfelt appreciation to all our subscribers.  We wish you and yours a safe and memorable holiday weekend.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!