As the quality of the air becomes crisper, Charlottesville’s stunning foliage puts on its yearly show, and pumpkin spice abounds, the holidays are drawing nigh. Amidst the pageant and poetry of the season, one thing holds true: it’s almost time for giving thanks.

While it may seem early to plan your holiday feasts, It’s time to start placing orders for Thanksgiving turkeys at Rebecca’s Natural Food. When you order a Turkey to give thanks with friends and family, you want it to be exceptional.

Meet an exceptional turkey, an Heirloom breed, the Kelly Bronze.

Kelly Bronze turkeys are available in two places in the world, the UK and the Charlottesville, VA area, thanks to the Culver family. The Culvers fell in love with this special turkey, originally raised and marketed by British farmer Derek Kelly. According to Judd Culver, “Basically, the Kellys and I got to know each other really well,” Culver said. “We kind of hit it off; we had a lot in common. Paul Kelly and I are like two peas in a pod, to be honest. He’s 10 years older than me, but … we think alike and get along really well.”

What makes them different?

This is an heirloom breed turkey. Difficult to raise, it takes twice the amount of time to raise a Kellly Bronze as a regular turkey. It’s an investment but is also what gives these birds their unique and complex flavor, as well as the unusual quality of cooking in half the time. The distribution of fat through the meat also distributes the heat. The name “Bronze” comes from their unique brown color. These are raised free-range, allowed to roam the abundant land of the Culver’s farm. They’re raised without any antibiotics, additives, and growth hormones.

The motto upheld in raising Kelly Bronze turkeys is “bred to be wild.” Thanks to this approach and a diet of wild insects, corn and soy, and artisan well water, the turkeys live a natural lifestyle. While the diet optimizes the turkeys’ nutritional content, these free-range turkeys are ultimately bred for taste. Most commercially raised supermarket turkeys are slaughtered at a mere 12-14 weeks old, while Kelly Bronze turkeys reach sexual maturity at 21-24 weeks old and are slaughtered at a later age.

“WHEN YOU EAT A KELLY BRONZE TURKEY, IT’S THE JUICIEST, TASTIEST TURKEY YOU’VE EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE. THIS IS THE CLOSEST TO THE PILGRIMS YOU’LL EVER GET.”
—JUDD CULVER

When you order a Turkey to give thanks with friends and family, you want it to be exceptional.

Try Kelly Bronze, the Rolls Royce of Turkeys.

Come into Rebecca’s Natural Food today to place your order for a Kelly Bronze turkey! Sign-ups are on now through 11/14 (pick up day is 11/17). The deposit to secure your turkey is $25 and the price per pound is $11.69.