Happy Valley farms, markets make it easy to serve local foods on your Thanksgiving table
With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, it’s time to begin planning and shopping for your holiday feast. Happy Valley’s markets, farms and producers make it easy for you to buy local for all your traditional Thanksgiving entrees, sides and desserts.
Where to buy a local turkey (or ham!)
Local turkeys go quickly in Centre County, but you may still be able to snag a bird or two. Unfortunately, the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ annual turkey sale — always a favorite, offering fresh, dressed turkeys for pre-sale as part of a student fundraiser — has already sold out of its 300 or so turkeys for the year. However, there are other options.
Pole Cat Hollow Farm is taking orders for pasture-raised, non-GMO turkeys both on the farm’s website (polecathollowfarm.com) and at the Boalsburg Farmers Market. When you pick up your turkey on the farm, Nov. 24–26, you can see first-hand how the turkey was raised (though, if it’s more convenient, you can also pick up your turkey at Boalsburg Farmers Market, Nov. 26, or select locations in Julian, Port Matilda or Altoona, Nov. 24). Don’t need a whole turkey? The farm also has turkey “parts” available for smaller gatherings.
Local markets throughout Centre County are also offering local turkeys for pre-order, including the new Centre Markets location within the Nittany Mall, with pasture-raised, non-GMO turkeys from Stoltzsus Farms. StateCollegeMarket.com provides a particularly unique option for sourcing your holiday turkey: a meat CSA from Hostetler Farm.
Similar to any farm CSA, the meat CSA, which just kicked off in November, provides subscribers with their choice of farm-fresh products, on a regular basis. However, instead of opening your box to find an assortment of recently picked veggies, you’ll find popular cuts of free-range turkey and chicken, grass-fed beef and veal, pastured pork and exclusive items not currently available otherwise through StateCollegeMarket.com.
If it’s a ham your family prefers on Thanksgiving, though, Stem to Stable Farm in Centre Hall is selling ham and ham slices (as well as whole chickens) on a first-come, first-served basis. You can make your purchase at the farm on Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m, or place an online order at stemtostablefarm.com for a Tuesday evening pick-up.
All the sides
For some, though, the side dishes are what really make a Thanksgiving meal — mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, sweet potatoes and salads.
Easily shop for all your produce in one place, with StateCollegeMarket.com and Centre Markets. StateCollegeMarket.com has a range of produce from its various vendors, including microgreens, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, beets, potatoes and cabbage. Centre Markets will offer local sweet potatoes and greens, as well as more unusual heirloom varieties of winter squash. Centre Markets also has ready-to-go side dishes prepared by local chefs.
Something sweet
Lastly, if your Thanksgiving highlight is pie, pie and more pie, Centre Markets offers fresh and frozen pumpkin and apple pies from a variety of local chefs. StateCollegeMarket.com likewise offers sweet potato, pumpkin, pecan and apple pies through Hostetler Kitchens. Market orders can be placed online, with pick-up at Trinity Lutheran Church and deliveries taking place on Fridays.
At The Cakeshop by Tati in Pleasant Gap, apple crumble, pumpkin and pecan pies are on offer, as are pumpkin, churro, brown butter vanilla bean and vanilla cheesecakes.
In Milesburg, Sweets of Gold is taking orders through Nov. 21 for pumpkin cheesecake tarts and caramel apple cheesecake tarts, as well as 3D turkey cookies (perfect for favors or place-settings — or just to eat!) with pick-up Nov. 26 and Nov. 27. A limited number of 3D turkeys will be available for purchase during opening hours at the storefront starting Nov. 8, but can be ordered any day of the month outside of the week of Thanksgiving with a minimum two-week notice.
Need something even more convenient?
Want to support local but really prefer to leave the cooking to the pros? Or maybe just don’t need an entire turkey and all the fixings?
The Cakeshop by Tati is offering a Thanksgiving meal menu for two to four people, with take-out, ready-to-reheat meals including confit duck legs, mushroom cream green bean casserole, baked mac and cheese, potato puree, chancaca-glazed yams and cranberry sauce. Inquiries will be accepted for meals for larger parties.
Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer. She can be reached at holly.ridd@gmail.com.
