Fresh and local defines the ethos of the farmers who bring their products each week to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. That commitment presents an especially strong challenge to the farmers who raise turkeys for market customers, when one considers what it takes to sustainably raise a delicious turkey from birth to maturity. Bobby Chandler, of the Mariaville Mushroom Men and one of three vendors approved to offer turkeys at the Saturday market, puts it quite simply: “They’re big birds that require a lot of time and a lot of grain to grow to their best eating size.” That size is about 16 to 25 pounds, according to Megan Baker of Malta Ridge Orchard & Garden, which also will have turkeys available at the market tomorrow and on Saturday, Nov. 18. “We like them to be no smaller than 13 or 14 pounds, and ideally a bit bigger than that,” Baker said. “Otherwise, the meat tends to be stringy, and not taste very good.” Raising a high quality turkey requires about 24 to 26 weeks. Chandler, for instance, typically receives his poults in May and feeds them a high-quality grain in brooders until they are feathered out enough to forage outdoors. Throughout the summer and early fall, his turkeys grow slowly to maturity on a combination of grains and whatever they can forage on his grounds. That style of feeding along with the active outdoor exercise that the turkeys receive deepens both the flavor and nutritional value of their meat. Another crucial factor in raising turkeys is waiting for them to gain the added layer of fat beneath their skin. This fat adds weight to the birds and moisture to the meat. Fat does not begin to accumulate until the turkeys are 22 weeks old, or about 5-1/2 months. As a result, turkeys tend to be a big and at around $6 a pound, a premium purchase. The cost, however, is worth the flavor. To order a turkey, you may contact the following vendors via telephone or e-mail, or visit their stalls tomorrow at the market: Blind Buck Farm 518-854-9382 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Malta Ridge Orchard and Gardens 518-365-6015 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mariaville Mushroom Men 518-864-5234 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market invites you to celebrate the holidays with us 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths in the Saratoga Spa State Park.