Turkey Theory
Nov. 18th, 2020 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
walkitoutI have been seeing a lot of articles about how the turkeys were bred and raised with before times expectations, but Now Times means more, smaller birds are needed and fewer big birds. Obviously supply chain mismatches are Opportunities!
I have been inundated with email about Turkey Roulade, which leads R. and I to the following theory: each large bird can make enough turkey breast for 2 small families, and at least 2 roulades (one per leg). Possibly more, plus whatever is left in the back, neck, etc. can go into ground turkey, turkey croquettes, etc. We suspect it will require more labor in the paid part of the chain which, in theory anyway, should result in greater margin ... somewhere. But it might be less farmer margin, because it is some component in the middle of the chain doing the extra work and getting the added margin.
I will now attempt to find any evidence that this is occurring.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/10/19/thanksgiving-turkey-shortage/
Turns out it is really hard for smaller farms focused on the artisanal / natural / etc. end of things that only produce an annual batch of fresh turkeys to pivot to much of anything else.
Also, less mechanization in slaughtering.
I have been inundated with email about Turkey Roulade, which leads R. and I to the following theory: each large bird can make enough turkey breast for 2 small families, and at least 2 roulades (one per leg). Possibly more, plus whatever is left in the back, neck, etc. can go into ground turkey, turkey croquettes, etc. We suspect it will require more labor in the paid part of the chain which, in theory anyway, should result in greater margin ... somewhere. But it might be less farmer margin, because it is some component in the middle of the chain doing the extra work and getting the added margin.
I will now attempt to find any evidence that this is occurring.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/10/19/thanksgiving-turkey-shortage/
Turns out it is really hard for smaller farms focused on the artisanal / natural / etc. end of things that only produce an annual batch of fresh turkeys to pivot to much of anything else.
Also, less mechanization in slaughtering.