Going Local For Thanksgiving in DC

When I was younger, I always wondered why certain foods were synonymous with Thanksgiving.  Why did we always have to have sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce? Why didn’t we ever celebrate with a peach cobbler or a cherry pie?  As I got older, I began to understand that even though I could buy a watermelon in December didn’t mean it was in season.  That’s also when I realized Thanksgiving truly was a celebration of all that Fall’s harvest had to offer.  And this year, I plan to serve up a Thanksgiving dinner using as much local food as I can manage.  From cranberries to the all important turkey, my goal is to give thanks over a plate produced by the small farmers of the Chesapeake region.  Want to do the same? Here are some ways to give thanks and support your local farmers this Thanksgiving:

The Turkey:

The turkey is pretty much the show stopper for Thanksgiving.  A dry, tasteless turkey can reduce strong hosts and hostesses to tears (and send their guests running for more water…or wine).  A fresh turkey from a responsible farm can help to ease any turkey anxieties one may have.  Here is a list of local sources for that all important bird:

Haskins Family Farm is a small, family run farm in Middletown, Virginia, specializing in free range chickens and turkeys, fresh eggs and pork products.  They will be taking orders for Common white, free-range birds (21-28 pounds), as well as half birds and whole turkey breasts.  Birds will be distributed at the Foggy Bottom Farmers Market on November 25th (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving).  Stop by their stand at the Foggy Bottom Farmers Market to place your order and pay your deposit.

Garden Path Farm is a farm located in Newburg, Pennsylvania selling pasture raised beef, chicken and lamb.  They will be taking orders for double breasted, pasture raised small turkeys (10-15 pounds) and turkey breasts at the H Street Farmers Market.  The birds will be delivered to the H Street market site the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (November 24th).

Groff’s Content Farm is a certified organic farm in Rocky Ridge, MD that specializes in pasture raised beef, lamb, pork, goat, chickens, turkeys and duck.  They are accepting orders now for broad breasted and heritage turkeys for Thanksgiving.  Turkeys can be picked up at the Silver Spring Farmers Market or Mount Pleasant Farmers Market the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 21).  To order, email Julie Bolton or call 301-305-7898.

Smith Meadows Farm is a well known farm (and bed and breakfast) located in Berryville, VA.  Their cattle, pigs, chickens, goats and sheep are grass fed and free roaming.  They have two sizes of turkeys available for Thanksgiving: 10-12 pounds and 13-14 pounds.  Orders can be placed at any of the farmers markets where Smith Meadows sells with a $10 deposit.  Turkeys will be available for pick up the Saturday or Sunday before Thanksgiving (November 21 or 22), depending on the market.

Springfield Farm is a natural and free range farm just outside of Baltimore, Maryland.  Their animals are fed a natural diet, allowed to roam freely amongst the land and are not given any hormones, antibiotics or chemicals.  They have both natural or pastured broad breasted turkeys for Thanksgiving (from 12-25 pounds).  Orders for these turkeys can be placed via email or by calling 410-472-0738.  Turkeys will be available for pick up at the Harbor East Farmers Market this Saturday (November 14th) or at Springfield Farm on November 21.

EcoFriendly Foods is one of the most recognized meat vendors in the DC area.  They will have both heritage turkeys and cross turkesy available this year.  They have kindly placed all of their turkey ordering information on their website (where you can also place orders for the turkeys online).  Turkeys will be available for pickup at either the Arlington Courthouse Farmers Market or the Dupont Circle Farmers Market the weekend before Thanksgiving (November 21 and 22).

Truck Patch Farms in New Windsor, MD raise free roaming cattle, chickens, turkeys and pigs, as well as pesticide free produce.  They will be selling broad breasted white pasture raised turkeys in various sizes for Thanksgiving! Email them to place an order for your Thanksgiving bird.  You can also discuss pick up details with them when placing your order.

Maple Lawn Farms is a Fulton, MD farm specializing in free range, all natural turkeys.  They accept orders for all of their turkey products online and the turkeys can be picked up at the farm from November 11 through November 25.

The Sides:

Sure the turkey is the main star, but what’s a star without excellent co-stars? From green bean casseroles to lumpy mashed potatoes, the sides are just as important as the bird.  And this is the perfect time to stop by a local farmers market to pick up some ingredients for the best loved Thanksgiving dishes.

• Stuffing:  For a great stuffing, you must start with a great bread.  Some of my favorite bread vendors at local farmers markets include: Atwater’s, Panorama Bakery (selling at Bloomingdale, 14th & U and Mount Pleasant Farmers Markets), Bonaparte Breads, and the Bread Ovens at Quail Creek Farms.  Mushrooms, apples and chestnuts are a great addition to any stuffing.  While apples and mushrooms are abundant at many area farmers markets, chestnuts aren’t as easy to find.  Kuhn and McCleaf Orchards (both selling at 14th & U Farmers Market) had chestnuts the last few weekends, so keep your eye out for them there!
• Cranberry Sauce: This is a tougher one to find. In past seasons, I have found cranberries at the Adams Morgan Farmers Market and Dupont Circle Farmers Markets.
• Mashed, Roasted, Scalloped or Scarily Casseroled Potatoes (White, Sweet, Fingerling and White Sweet Potato Varieties): We are in the endless season of tubers, so you can find beautiful potatoes of a million varieties at any DC area farmers market.  Some of my favorites include fingerling potatoes from Tree & Leaf Farm, white sweet potatoes from Garner’s Produce and lovely Yukon potatoes from Mountain View Farm (who sells at Penn Quarter Farmers Market and 14th & U Farmers Market).

• Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli and Other Greens: This is the height of brussels sprout and broccoli season, giving rise to odd conglomerations of broccoli casseroles everywhere! Check out the beautiful sprouts at Truck Patch or the beautiful heads of broccoli at The Farm at Sunnyside.  Or roast some of  Next Step Produce’s carrots after tossing with fresh rosemary, olive oil, kosher salt and pepper!
• Desserts: Pumpkins, sweet potatoes and butternut squashes make for fantastic pies and are everywhere this time of year at the farmers markets! Use some of Keswick Creamery‘s ricotta for a silky cheesecake or Toigo Orchards’ apples for an apple tartin.  And top off any of these pies or tarts with a seasonal gelato from Dolcezza (selling at 14th & U, Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle and Falls Church Farmers Markets).

This is only a small sampling of the seasonal produce available at DC area farmers markets for the Thanksgiving holiday meal.  All of the markets listed in this post will be open at least until the weekend before Thanksgiving (some are open year round or as late as December).  Next week I will be testing out Thanksgiving recipes for my very own (and very first time as hostess) Thanksgiving dinner with friends! I’ll be using local ingredients from my favorite DC farmers markets (I’m even getting my turkey from Groff’s Content Farm this year) but if you don’t live in DC, find a market near you!