Bird flu is all over the news these days. Whether it is egg prices, dairy herds testing positive, or the staggering number of poultry lost, it’s hard to miss the talk about avian influenza. We are incredibly grateful that we’ve been largely spared from the worst, but it remains a nearly constant worry and one that’s created disruption at [...]

My new Minnesota Cooks Calendar has officially turned to 2025. As we take stock of last year and look ahead to new opportunities, I thought I’d share what we learned at Ferndale Market in 2024: The formula for turkey farming is ever changing: Someone without a background in farming might assume it’s a straightforward, rinse-and-repeat occupation. For better or worse, [...]

The tents are taken down, the cooler looks empty, and our phones have quieted down after days of our unofficial turkey hotline. Yes, we’ve wrapped up another TurkeyFest. In the days after, I’m always filled with deep gratitude for all it takes to pull off our annual turkey season. I’ll also admit to feeling a bit of astonishment that [...]

One of my favorite events each fall is the annual Minneapolis Public Schools Community BBQ, a showcase of their ambitious farm-to-school initiative and the farms it supports. This year, the BBQ fell on a picture-perfect night, a great community of fellow local foodies, with the Minneapolis skyline as our backdrop. The Ferndale turkey tacos and my unexpected win in [...]

I’m a huge fan of the Minnesota State Fair, so one of my absolute summer highlights was enjoying the new Turkey Kristo sandwich at the Minnesota Farmer’s Union Coffee Shop. Of course, I’d love to tell you that the Ferndale turkey stole the show, but the spirit of an authentically local sandwich – including CannonBelles cheese – made it all the [...]

When it comes to farming, there’s no secret recipe, simple hack or product that solves everything. For better or for worse, I think most farming and animal care knowledge is gained best through experience. If we have a secret sauce around here, it’s that we’re blessed with an incredibly experienced farm team. For those keeping track at home, this [...]

On a recent spring morning, we moved some of our free-range turkeys from their outdoor yard to one of our range pastures. As the birds made their way out, one of our longtime staff members commented that it looked like a modern range, with our recently-built feeders and shelters, and a newly revamped water system. I responded that “modern [...]

I haven’t run out of stories, so I’ll continue with the theme of good fortune that’s benefited Ferndale Market over the past 15 years. I think many of you know that the building we call home is our former turkey hatchery, and the changes it’s seen are a walk through our evolution. Coincidently, we had stopped hatching our own [...]