Farmers urge shoppers to #BuyMyTurkey this Christmas
© Tim Scrivener Farmers are using social media to encourage shoppers to buy their Christmas turkeys direct from producers.
Turkey producers have embraced the #BuyMyTurkey hashtag to remind consumers that fresh British turkeys can be purchased from the farm gate.
Messages, photos and videos are being posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, with farmers showcasing pictures and films of their birds.
See also: Costs rise faster than inflation for turkey producers
“Our turkeys are slow-growing traditional breeds, which means they are fully mature and have a brilliant meat-to-carcass ratio,” said Alexandra Bridger of Ashford Farm, Petersfield, Hampshire.
Today the NFU has launched its #buymyturkey campaign to support British turkey farmers. Please do consider buying a…
Posted by Ashford Farm Free Range Turkeys & Geese on Friday, December 1, 2017
Essex producer Paul Kelly tweeted saying anyone buying a turkey would receive a kiss.
https://twitter.com/KellyBronze/status/936900826433429504
The Southall family have been rearing turkeys for 50 years at Great Barford, Bedfordshire.
Traditional farm fresh turkeys. Reared on the farm by the family. From our family to yours order today, for a totally…
Posted by Southall Turkeys on Thursday, November 30, 2017
Kent Turkeys said all its birds were free-range and able to roam across more than 6ha of pasture on the family farm near Biddenden.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcKn0PNF3pV/?hl=en&tagged=buymyturkey
Lydiard Turkeys in Wiltshire said buying direct meant farmers could give shoppers advice on the best way to cook their birds.
Buying your turkey direct from the farm also gives you the opportunity to get some cooking tips! We are often asked if we have Turkey for xmas dinner or are we sick of the sight of them! The answer is of course we do! 6 months of hard work to be rewarded with this #buymyturkey pic.twitter.com/xlphpxoEZB
— Lydiard Turkeys (@LydiardTurkeys) December 1, 2017
The NFU said shoppers could support farmers and by choosing a locally reared bird.
The union has launched its annual online Turkey Finder, which lists more than 250 turkey producers covering every region of England and Wales.
It launched the campaign by delivering a turkey live on air to Radio X DJ Chris Moyles during his breakfast show on Monday (4 December).
NFU poultry board member Mike Bailey, of Baileys Turkeys, Knutsford, Cheshire, said buying a local bird helped ensure a vibrant rural economy as well as helping producers.
“Buying your turkey directly from the farm where it has been produced not only benefits a local farming business but also provides you with a great-tasting bird reared to the highest standards.”
Farmers shopping at their local supermarket should check country of origin labelling and look for the Red Tractor logo, which guaranteed traceability, said Mr Bailey.