Schuylkill County's own Koch's Turkey Farm will be featured on CBS News in early February, thanks to their no-antiobiotic policy in raising their turkeys.
Read the story here in the Pottsville Republican in the 1/24/10 edition. Anchor Katie Couric and her staff learned of the healthy antibioticc free process at Koch's and visited the farm last week for a news report.
Koch’s Turkey Farm is a true family farm (in the second generation now) that values the traditional standards of their Pennsylvania Dutch Heritage. Founded by Lowell and Elizabeth Koch in 1953, the small original farm has evolved into a fully integrated farm with 45 turkey houses, a hatchery, and an all natural feed mill.
Here is what their website says about how they raise their turkeys:
We feed
our flocks a vegetarian diet fortified with vitamins and minerals which is a natural defense against bacterial organisms. Our feed mill is located right on our farm, and utilizes locally grown corn and roasted soybeans for our specially formulated feed. Our Turkeys never receive antibiotics or growth promotants at any time. Animal by-products, fats, bakery or pet food products are never used in our poultry feed.
Our Turkeys are antibiotic free and have free range access to outdoor areas that provide natural sunlight and fresh air. Our Turkeys meet strict Humane guidelines and Welfare Standards for Turkeys. These guidelines take into account the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), practical standards for the proper care of and Treatment of Turkeys. In addition to meeting these guidelines, Koch’s scored a 100% on the Turkey Welfare and Humane practices independent audit by Steritech.
Visiting Koch's Turkey Farm
From Pottsville Area: Take 61 South through Pottsville. Turn left onto Tumbling Run Road. Stay on Tumbling Run Road for several miles. Pass Guers Dairy on the right. Go to the ‘T” and turn right. Make an immediate left onto Valley Road heading toward Rosemont Campground. Stay on Valley Road, pass the campground and go down the hill. Koch's Turkey Farm will be ahead on the right.
The Koch’s Family Store is located at 416 Valley Road, Tamaqua, PA 18252 Phone (570) 668-2089
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Usually when something is "fortified with vitamins and minerals," those vitamins and minerals are chemicals.
Erica: We have a local farm that raises organic, antiobiotic free turkeys. If I hosted Thanksgiving, I would have definitely gone that route.