Fresh Thanksgiving Turkeys Fly Out Of Sharon These Days

Jim Ward ordered about 245 fresh Thanksgiving turkeys this season and had no leftovers.

So, responding to the demand, ordered about 20 more on Friday.

"Unfortunately, we're only putting people on our waiting list from this point on," said Ward, whose family owns the South Main Street farm.

Thirteen turkeys were left as of Monday afternoon.

Sharon's Ward's and both are selling fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving.

That's because consumers are beating the bushes looking for a bird in the hand.

For the first time, "to see how it will work," Crescent Ridge offered, only to its online customers, 35 fresh turkeys from Misty Knoll Farms in Vermont, Crescent Ridge Sales and Marketing Manager Brad Pond says.

"Fresh turkey on Thanksgiving is great," he says.

"We're going to try it again next year. We'll have more time to order."

Ward's is selling fresh turkeys from Haley's Turkey Ranch in Brimfield for the 10th year, Ward says.

Ward says he typically sold about 200 turkeys annually the first nine years.

He added about 50 to this year's order, but demand still wasn't satiated.

"I've never heard anything but super complimentary things about the birds," Ward says.

"It's a different beast from the frozen turkey. I'm guessing because it's fresh, and the way they raise them.

"I don't believe anyone who's bought one in the past hasn't bought them again."

Fresh turkeys cost about $2 more per pound than frozen ones, Ward says.

The Thanksgiving dinner demand for squash is high, too.

"I've never heard more positive feedback and compliments about winter squash than I've heard the last couple of weeks," Ward says.

"Maybe it's just all the beta carotine."

The farm's selection includes such varieties as Hubbard and Buttercup, "and we have pieces, if people don't want to buy the whole squash," he says.

"Our winter squash selection, I think, really is rivaled by no one," Ward says.

Ward also is selling "beautiful brussel sprouts. They're really nice and small and fancy," he says.

Customers will get brussel sprouts grown here in Sharon "instead of coming from across the country," Ward says.

At Crescent Ridge, the Thanksgiving selection includes pumpkin ice cream, egg nogg, and there are pies from the Ever So Humble Pie Company in East Walpole, Pond says.

The Bay Road dairy has sold out of the 4-oz turkey-shaped butters made by Keller's Creamery, annually a popular item.

"They're great for their table setting," Pond says.