Giving Thanks for Turkeys Without Growth-Promoting Antibiotics; Shady Brook Farms®, Honeysuckle White® Change Thanksgiving

Consumers now have an affordable option in time for the holidays

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Shady Brook Farms; Honeysuckle White

Nov 06, 2014, 10:53 ET

WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for Thanksgiving, Shady Brook Farms^® and Honeysuckle White^® are now offering fresh, whole turkeys and fresh, bone-in turkey breasts raised without growth-promoting antibiotics. By working with more than 700 independent farmers to raise the turkeys, Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White are the first major turkey brands to implement a change like this on a large scale. What's more, these premium birds are available without the premium price tag.

To know you are getting a turkey raised without growth-promoting antibiotics by farmers who care, simply look for the USDA Process Verified seal on fresh, Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White whole turkeys and bone-in turkey breasts this fall.

62 percent of consumers would be very or extremely interested in purchasing turkey that has not received artificial growth stimulants.

50 percent of consumers want turkeys raised on independent family farms.

"Consumers today are becoming more interested in what goes into raising their food before it reaches their plate," says Jan Hood, marketing leader for Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White turkey. "We've been listening to what they are looking for in turkey — or more importantly, what they aren't looking for — and have chosen to remove growth-promoting antibiotics from our turkey flocks because consumers want it and we believe it's the right thing to do for the turkeys in our care."

Consumers looking for fresh turkeys from Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White raised without growth-promoting antibiotics should look for the USDA Process Verified seal stating:

Raised by independent farmers
Producers are trained on animal handling practices
No antibiotics used for growth promotion (antibiotics only used for treatment and prevention of illness.)

A 2014 survey of turkey consumers revealed that 62 percent of consumers are interested in purchasing turkeys for Thanksgiving raised without artificial growth stimulants and half of consumers are looking for turkeys raised on independent farms.

Consumers who want to purchase organic turkeys this fall are likely to pay nearly 143 percent more than they would for conventionally raised turkeys. Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White don't think consumers need to sacrifice on price to have a wholesome turkey.

"We believe that good food should be accessible to everyone. That's why we are making our fresh turkeys raised without growth-promoting antibiotics at a price comparable to conventionally-raised turkeys," Hood said.

This major change has been in the works for more than a year, and in July of 2014, the two brands officially announced they were removing growth-promoting antibiotics from turkey flocks. Fresh whole birds and fresh bone-in breasts are now available for families to enjoy this holiday season and will extend to additional items in 2015.

About Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White
Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White turkey are brands owned by Cargill. For more information, visit www.shadybrookfarms.com and www.honeysucklewhite.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141104/156637
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141104/156636
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141104/156635

Contacts:
Allyssa Kennedy
[email protected]
816.423.6165

Michael Martin
[email protected]
316.291.2126

SOURCE Shady Brook Farms; Honeysuckle White