Farm to table: How to buy locally raised turkey and sides for your Thanksgiving in KC
Thanksgiving is approaching fast, and many Kansas Citians are already making their shopping lists for this year’s dinner.
Sourcing your Thanksgiving meal from local farmers, bakers, growers and other makers is a great way to give back to the Kansas City community as the holidays begin — and it’s also good for your health and the planet.
“Opting for local brings seasonal, more organic, and high-quality ingredients to your table,” writes the Climate Council of Greater Kansas City, a local nonprofit that shares sustainability resources around the metro.
“Unlike their mass-produced counterparts, local farmers tend to steer clear of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and preservatives, making your Thanksgiving meal not only tasty but also a healthier choice for you and the land.”
Here are some places where you can find great local foods around the metro in time for Thanksgiving.
Where to source a local turkey in Kansas City
Farrar Family Farm near Adrian, Missouri, offers turkey legs, breasts, and other cuts of meat from happy, healthy birds raised with no hormones, antibiotics or exposure to pesticides.
Farmers Katie and Gabe Farrar offer meat pickups at 11 locations around the metro.
Bauman’s Mobile Meat Market offers fresh and frozen turkeys from its family farm near Garnett, Kansas. The family raises, butchers and processes the birds in its USDA-inspected facility. You may recognize its walk-in shopping trailer from the Overland Park or Olathe farmers’ markets, where it also sells beef, pork, chicken, lamb, milk and eggs.
David’s Pasture is a regenerative farm in Concordia, Missouri, offering whole Thanksgiving turkeys for pickup or home delivery. The farm also sells pasture-raised beef, lamb, pork and chicken.
Local Pig is a butcher shop and deli located in the River Market at 20 E. 5th Street. The shop is accepting $1 reservations for fresh Thanksgiving turkeys from Buttonwood Farm in California, Missouri, and Vesecky Family Farms in Baldwin City, Kansas.
Where to find locally grown produce in Kansas City
Kansas City is awash in small farms both within and beyond city limits — and harvest time is the perfect opportunity to sample some of their bounty. Here are just a handful of great urban farms located in the metro.
Young Family Farm is located in the Ivanhoe neighborhood on Kansas City’s historic East Side. This Black-owned farm is selling red and green tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, onions, garlic, potatoes and carrots.
2 Birds Farm is a women-run produce and goat farm in Kansas City, Kansas. You can find its products every week at the Brookside Farmers Market.
Ophelia’s Blue Vine Farm is a Black-owned urban farm growing fresh herbs in the historic 18th & Vine district. The farm sells its herbs directly to customers on Doordash, including rosemary, cilantro, mint, lemon balm, arugula, parsely, thyme and French sorrel.
Urbavore Urban Farm is a family-run farm on Kansas City’s East Side selling sweet potatoes, leeks, radishes, herbs, arugula and pork products like sausage, lard, pork chops and ribs. The farm also distributes products from other smaller growers, including fresh mushrooms, aged cheese, hot sauce and honey.
The KC Farm School is a teaching farm in Kansas City, Kansas. It has one farmer’s market date left for the year on Monday, Nov. 20 — just in time for Thanksgiving shopping. You can expect to find winter squash, pumpkins, leafy greens and other goods from local makers.
Where to find local baked goods in Kansas City
Bloom Baking Company, located in the City Market, is taking online preorders until Sunday, Nov. 19 for pies, bread pudding and other desserts as well as dinner rolls and stuffing.
Dolce Bakery in Prairie Village is taking online preorders until Friday, Nov. 17 for Thanksgiving treats including pies, cakes, cupcakes, sugar cookies, mini cheesecakes, scones and breakfast rolls.
McLain’s Bakery, which has three locations in the Kansas City area and one in Lawrence, is taking online preorders until Sunday, Nov. 19 for pies, cakes, pull-apart dinner rolls, coffee cakes, quiches and cookie boxes.
The Pantry in Lenexa is taking online preorders until noon on Monday, Nov. 20 for dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, scones, cheesecakes and apple or pecan pies.
Where else to find great local foods in Kansas City
You can find other fresh and local foods from around the metro area at the city’s farmers’ markets:
Brookside Winter Farmers Market
HJ’s Community Center, 6425 Wornall Rd., Kansas City
Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
20 E. 5th St., Kansas City
Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
7905 Marty St., Overland Park
Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.
KC Farm School at Gibbs Road Market
4223 Gibbs Rd., Kansas City, Kansas
Monday, November 20, 4 – 7 p.m. in the Greenhouse
Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa
Saturday, November 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Do you have more questions about where to find fresh, local food in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
