Thanksgiving Turkey Slaughter At Gunthorp Farms | True Cost | Business Insider

Summary

The video follows Greg and his family as they raise turkeys at Gunthorp Farms in Indiana, offering a humane, pastured alternative to mass-produced poultry. Despite the challenges of rising costs and competition from corporate producers, Greg remains committed to ethical farming practices. The video contrasts Greg's sustainable methods with industrial poultry operations, highlighting the difficulties small farms face in a market dominated by large corporations. The story also touches on the growing trend of deceptive marketing in the food industry and the importance of transparency for consumers who care about where their food comes from.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gunthorp Farms in Indiana raises turkeys the traditional way, focusing on humane practices and quality over quantity.
• 😀 Greg's turkeys are raised without genetically modified grain or antibiotics, and are allowed to roam freely in a natural environment.
• 😀 Unlike factory-farmed turkeys, Gunthorp Farms' birds are exposed to fresh air, sunlight, and space to move, promoting their well-being.
• 😀 Harvesting and processing turkeys at Gunthorp Farms is a labor-intensive, multi-day operation involving close attention to animal welfare.
• 😀 The farm's turkeys cost significantly more to raise (up to three times the price of mass-produced turkeys) due to their ethical treatment and higher labor costs.
• 😀 Greg worries that the demand for his turkeys will diminish like his chicken business did, as consumers continue to opt for cheaper, mass-produced poultry.
• 😀 The farm's chicken operation, which once brought in half of their revenue, was shut down in 2020 due to shrinking demand for pastured chicken.
• 😀 Deceptive marketing by big corporations like Cargill, which owns multiple brands that give the illusion of variety, makes it difficult for smaller, ethical farms to compete.
• 😀 Greg faces regular challenges with wholesalers dropping his products, often because of higher prices despite the superior quality of his turkeys.
• 😀 Despite the difficulties, Greg remains committed to sustainable, humane farming practices, valuing the connection between consumers and the food they purchase.
• 😀 In the face of adversity, Greg is optimistic about selling all his turkeys this Thanksgiving, thanks to loyal customers who care about how their food is raised.

Q & A

What makes Greg's farm different from mass-produced turkey farms?

Greg's farm raises turkeys with a focus on humane treatment and sustainability. His birds are given access to the outdoors, are raised on non-GMO grain, and are not given antibiotics. This is in stark contrast to mass-produced turkeys, which are often kept in large barns with thousands of other birds.

Why does Greg raise his turkeys on a smaller scale?

Greg believes in providing a more humane and natural life for his turkeys, allowing them to roam outside, eat natural foods, and engage in natural behaviors like chasing bugs. He also emphasizes the importance of raising animals that have access to sunlight and exercise, which is rare in the mass-production model.

How does the cost of Greg's turkeys compare to supermarket turkeys?

Greg's turkeys are significantly more expensive than supermarket turkeys. They can cost up to $6 per pound, which is about three times more than mass-produced turkeys. This price reflects the higher labor costs and more sustainable farming practices involved in raising the birds.

What challenges has Greg faced with wholesale buyers?

Greg has struggled with losing wholesale buyers due to the higher price of his turkeys. One example is losing a large retail turkey buyer at the last minute before Thanksgiving, leaving him with hundreds of unsold turkeys, which he later had to sell as parts.

What impact did Greg's decision to abandon his chicken operation have on his farm?

Greg's decision to stop raising chickens in 2020 was a major blow to his farm's revenue. The chicken operation had previously made up about half of his business. Without it, turkey production now makes up only about 15% of the farm's revenue, putting financial strain on the operation.

How do corporate food brands like Cargill impact small farms like Greg's?

Corporate brands like Cargill create an illusion of choice by marketing their products as being from independent family farmers, while actually controlling the production. These companies contract smaller farms to raise their birds, which often results in less autonomy for the farmers and more emphasis on mass production, driving down prices and pushing small-scale farms out of the market.

What does Greg think about the marketing tactics of big companies like Cargill?

Greg believes that big companies use deceptive marketing tactics to create the illusion of choice for consumers. For example, multiple brands like Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms are actually owned by the same conglomerate, Cargill. This leads to misleading claims about the origin and production practices of the turkeys.

What is Greg's strategy for staying in business despite these challenges?

Greg's strategy revolves around maintaining the integrity of his farming practices. He focuses on raising turkeys for consumers who care about humane treatment, sustainable practices, and the transparency of their food sources. Despite the higher costs and challenges with wholesalers, he wants to continue offering a product that aligns with his values.

What was the impact of losing a wholesale buyer on Greg's farm?

Losing a wholesale buyer was financially devastating for Greg's farm. It meant having to store hundreds of unsold turkeys in the freezer and later selling them as parts, which was less profitable. This highlighted the vulnerability of small farmers who rely on large buyers but face price competition from mass-produced products.

How does Greg ensure humane treatment during the slaughter of his turkeys?

Greg's farm uses electricity to stun the turkeys before slaughter, which he believes is a humane method. The processing plant is also audited and certified annually to ensure that the turkeys are treated humanely throughout the process.