Top Turkey Brands You Must Try This Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, selecting the perfect turkey brand becomes a priority for many households eager to serve a memorable feast. With a plethora of options available in the market, discerning consumers often look for turkeys that boast superior taste, texture, and quality. Brands such as Butterball, known for their juicy and easy-to-cook turkeys, and Jennie-O, which emphasizes lean and healthy options, have continued to lead the market with consistent popularity. For a detailed comparison and to find out which brand might suit your festive needs best, delve into the comprehensive list below.

Illustration of turkey

Best brands of turkey in 2025

Butterball

Butterball is a leading brand in the turkey industry, supplying one out of every three turkeys sold in the United States. Established in 1940, Butterball has a long history of producing high-quality turkey products, including whole turkeys, cured deli meats, and specialty items. The company sells over one billion pounds of turkey annually and operates a renowned Turkey Talk-Line since 1981 to assist consumers with cooking queries. In 2006, Butterball LLC was formed, and by 2010, Seaboard Corporation acquired a significant stake in the company. Butterball's expertise and customer support make it a trusted resource for holiday cooks. For more information, visit their official website.

Jennie-O

Jennie-O Turkey Store is a leading producer of turkey products, processing over 1.2 billion pounds of turkey annually and employing more than 7,000 people across the United States. As a subsidiary of Hormel Foods, Jennie-O has seen significant growth, with net sales increasing by 8% and volume up by 14% in the third quarter of 2018, driven by strong sales of value-added products like premium deli meats, ground turkey, and oven-ready products. The company produces over 1,500 items and distributes them in more than 26 countries. Despite some profit declines in 2018 due to industry oversupply, Jennie-O has continued to innovate and expand its promotional activities to support higher turkey volumes. In 2023, the company slaughtered an estimated 1.1 billion pounds of live turkey, a notable increase from the previous year. For more details about Jennie-O's innovative and expansive range of turkey products, visit their official website.

Honeysuckle White

Honeysuckle White, a Cargill brand, is a leading producer of family farm-raised turkey products, committed to food transparency and consumer trust. In 2018, the brand expanded its traceable turkey program, making one-third of all its fresh turkeys traceable, a significant increase from 5% the previous year, with over 200,000 traceable turkeys available from more than 70 family farms. This initiative allows consumers to trace their turkeys back to the farm using a blockchain-based solution. The brand's turkeys are raised without growth-promoting antibiotics, added hormones, or steroids, exclusively on independent family farms. Consumer surveys have shown strong support for this transparency, with 88% of consumers agreeing that brands need to be transparent in their food production. For more information, visit the Honeysuckle White turkeys traceable program.

Norbest

Norbest is a premier producer of high-quality turkey products, with a history spanning over 75 years. The company, which is part of the Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative, processes approximately 4 million turkeys annually, resulting in over 55 million pounds of turkey products each year. Norbest offers a diverse range of products, including whole turkeys, turkey breasts, roasts, ground turkey, and deli items, all of which are known for their natural and wholesome ingredients. The brand is committed to operational excellence, employee safety, and environmental sustainability, making it a trusted name in the industry. Norbest's products are widely exported, with seven out of every ten turkeys sold in Nebraska being exported out of state.

Foster Farms

Foster Farms, a leading producer of high-quality turkey products, was founded in 1939 as a backyard turkey ranch and now operates as a vertically integrated company with operations in several states. The company produces a wide range of turkey products, including organic ground turkey that is USDA-certified, raised free-range on organic land, and fed an organic vegetarian diet, with no added hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. Foster Farms has seen significant growth in organic ground turkey sales, with a 76% increase from 2014, and it is now the largest producer of organic ground turkey in the Western United States. The company employs 10,994 people and had sales of $2.445 billion in 2023, with 72.7% of its sales coming from retail markets. Foster Farms is committed to producing premium, lean protein options that meet the increasing demand for organic and natural foods.

Perdue

Perdue Foods is a prominent player in the U.S. turkey industry, headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland. In 2019, Perdue Foods increased its turkey production, slaughtering 294 million pounds, making it one of the top turkey producers in the country. As part of Perdue Farms, the company also ranks as the fourth largest broiler company in the United States. Perdue Foods is known for its significant contributions to the poultry sector, with annual sales of $8 billion in 2021. The company's integrated operations include both turkey and pork processing, as well as grain production through Perdue AgriBusiness. For more insights into Perdue Foods' ranking among the top turkey producers in the United States, you can explore this comprehensive article.

Shady Brook Farms

Shady Brook Farms, a brand under Cargill, is renowned for its high-quality, nutritious turkey products, particularly notable for being the first to meet the Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use (CRAU) standards and the USDA Process Verified Program. Since 2015, they have provided turkey raised without growth-promoting antibiotics, aligning with FDA guidelines and consumer preferences, with 62% of consumers favoring this approach. Their turkeys are raised by over 700 independent family farmers, ensuring proper animal handling and care. The brand offers various lean ground turkey options, such as 93% lean and 85% lean, with detailed nutritional information available on their portal. This commitment to quality and responsible practices makes Shady Brook Farms a trusted choice for schools and consumers alike. For more details, explore their lean ground turkey products.

Plainville Farms

Plainville Farms is a renowned brand in the turkey industry, known for its high-quality, natural, and certified organic products. In 2023, the company slaughtered an estimated 132 million pounds of live turkey, marking an increase from the 130 million pounds in 2022. Their product lineup is predominantly fresh, with 90% of their products being fresh and 10% frozen. Plainville Farms is committed to ethical and transparent farming practices, never administering antibiotics and feeding their flocks a high-quality, fortified diet of vegetarian grains. The company's 2022 sales were $240 million, reflecting its strong market presence. For more details, visit their about us page.

Diestel Family Ranch

Diestel Family Ranch is a pioneering producer of sustainably raised turkeys, having achieved the first Regenified(tm) certification in the industry, which involves sourcing over 650 tons of Certified Regenified(tm) corn. Founded in 1949, the ranch is known for its strict animal welfare and environmental standards, producing approximately 350,000 turkeys around Thanksgiving time. Diestel was one of the first poultry farms to incorporate organic farming practices in 1999 and has a Global Animal Partnership Step 5 rating. The company emphasizes minimal processing, using quality ingredients to achieve higher protein and lower sodium levels, and donates over 100,000 pounds of turkey to local food banks annually. With a commitment to regenerative agriculture and innovative farming practices, Diestel Family Ranch sets a high standard in the poultry industry.

Empire Kosher

Empire Kosher Poultry is renowned as the largest U.S. producer of kosher poultry, processing 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys per week, with an annual revenue exceeding $100 million. Founded in 1938 by Joseph N. Katz, the company has innovated in kosher food production, particularly in mainstream supermarket distribution. Empire Kosher adheres to stringent quality and animal welfare standards, including vegetarian feed, no antibiotics or growth hormones, and cage-free environments. The company's products are certified by the Orthodox Union and other reputable kosher supervisors. Empire Kosher's commitment to quality has earned it recommendations from publications like Cook's Illustrated. For more detailed information, visit their Wikipedia page.