There is nothing like a pasture-raised turkey! Rich, juicy, and flavorful, these birds will have people coming back for seconds (and thirds). Raised and cared for by our partner farmers Norm Zimmerman and Tim Haws on New York pastures.
Walden turkeys are truly pasture-raised outdoors during the growing season of May-October. Unlike large commercial poultry processors, we freeze, but don’t pre-brine our turkeys. Although a pre-brine can sound appealing, frozen, pre-brined turkeys are stored sometimes for weeks or months, causing them to get water-logged and have a squishy texture. Instead, Walden moves turkeys from the farm, to the processor, to our warehouse (where they are quickly frozen), packed and finally, shipped to your doorstep all in a matter of days — just in time for you to de-frost and brine your bird with your own recipe!
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What are your meat standards at Walden?
Our partner farmers raise animals outside on pastures that are herbicide and pesticide-free and they never administer antibiotics or hormones. Animals are regularly rotated to fresh pasture to maintain vegetative cover and promote carbon sequestration, and the animals are humanely handled without the use of electric prods or bodily modifications. Our beef is 100% grass-fed and finished – they receive no grain, no soy, no corn, and no wheat, ever. We also only work with farmers in the New England & New York area because we believe the geography and climate here is some of the best in the world for raising animals, but also so we can locally audit every farm we work with on a regular basis to ensure all standards are being upheld.
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What’s the difference between ordering a Gift Box and becoming a member of the Share Program at Walden Local Meat?
With our gifting options, we wanted to offer an easy way for our current members or others to share the world class, high standards, delicious Walden Local products with sustainably & ethically minded meat lovers across the country and those that may be out of our share delivery zones. These gift boxes offer a limited selection of Walden Local Meat cuts and are packed, shipped and delivered within 1-3 business days. On the other hand, our member share program delivers our members a monthly share with a broader range of meat cuts based on their preferences, plus a range of exciting monthly specials like eggs, milk, and cheese. In the member share program, you can skip or cancel your subscription any time, and shares are hand delivered by our internal delivery team in reusable canvas bags that we pick up each month. We like to think of ourselves as the modern day milkman!
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When will my Gift Box arrive and how will my recipient be notified?
We pack and ship Gift Boxes within 2 business days after an order is submitted, and you will receive a tracking number in your shipping notification to track the status of your Gift Box. We utilize 2-day ground or air shipping for all orders to ensure meat arrives cold. In most cases, your recipient will receive your gift within 3 days of submitting your order, and you will receive shipping status email notification when the box ships and when it is delivered. You may want to notify your recipient of when to be on the lookout for their Walden Local box, as they will not receive the same delivery notifications.
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How will my Gift Box arrive?
Your gift box will arrive with meat that is frozen or partially thawed and very cold to the touch. We ship all products to arrive within 2 days from leaving our warehouse with enough dry ice and in well insulated, recyclable packaging to ensure the safety of your meat.
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Why do you use dry ice?
Dry ice tends to keep frozen items colder in shipment. Also note that dry ice sublimates during shipment, so if your gift box arrives without any visible ice, rest assured it has done its job. Your meat should be frozen or thawed and still cold to the touch even if all the ice is gone. Please contact us if you have any concerns about your product temperature when it arrives.
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My meat is thawed, is it safe?
If your meat arrives thawed, it should be very cold to the touch, similar to products from your refrigerator. It is safe to refreeze or put in the fridge.
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How will my Gift Box ship?
After dry aging, our meat is custom cut and flash frozen, transported in a below-zero degree freezer, and left for you packed with dry ice, so it will stay cold for several hours on your doorstep. We believe this results in the best tasting meat possible. Gift Boxes will ship via UPS in a recyclable cardboard box with a compostable inner lining and recyclable plastic ice pouches. We take sustainability seriously and also purchase offset credits for the carbon footprint associated with shipping each Gift Box.
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Where do you ship?
We currently ship to every U.S. state in the lower 48 (i.e. all states excluding Alaska & Hawaii).
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How much is shipping?
Shipping is FREE to all states we can reach with 2-day ground shipping including: ME, NH, VT, MA, NY, CT, RI, NJ, PA, DE, MD, WV, VA, NC, SC, OH, MI, IN, IL, KY, TN. All other U.S. states (excluding Alaska & Hawaii) require 2-day air shipping and are charged a separate shipping fee based on our negotiated rates with UPS.
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If I have a question, who do I reach out to?
Our member experience team is always available to answer any questions. You can reach them at info@waldenlocalmeat.com or 978.362.8642.
