Top-Rated Brands for Delicious Whole Turkey Feasts

When it comes to choosing the perfect whole turkey for your festive feast, quality and taste are paramount considerations. Among the myriad of options available, certain brands stand out due to their commitment to ethical sourcing, succulent flavor, and consistent texture. From heritage breeds to organic and antibiotic-free choices, these brands offer something for every taste preference and dietary requirement. To explore an array of standout turkey brands that will elevate your holiday meal, continue reading below.

Illustration of whole turkey

Best brands of whole turkey in 2025

Butterball

Butterball, established as a brand in 1940 and formally recognized as Butterball LLC in 2006, is a leading producer of turkey products, processing approximately 1 billion pounds of turkey annually with over 60 years of experience. The company is known for its commitment to quality, food safety, and animal well-being, distributing products across the US and in more than 45 countries. Despite a 7% sales decrease in 2023, Butterball remains a highly recognized and trusted brand, offering both fresh and frozen whole turkeys, along with various other turkey products. Their turkeys are raised on American farms without hormones and are pre-brined for enhanced flavor and tenderness, making them a popular choice for consumers. You can visit their website for more information on their variety of turkey products.

Jennie-O

Jennie-O, established in 1940, is a major turkey producer, offering over 1500 products, including whole turkeys, and is recognized for quality and taste, with a 2019 slaughter of 1.23 billion pounds. Being a subsidiary of Hormel Foods, Jennie-O is considered a trusted brand for many consumers. In 2002, Jennie-O had an 18% share of the $5.5 billion turkey market and has been making all of its fresh and frozen whole birds traceable back to the originating farm since 2018. You can explore their variety of turkey products on their official website.

Honeysuckle White

Honeysuckle White, a brand under Cargill, is a top producer of whole turkeys, exclusively partnering with independent family farms to raise turkeys without growth-promoting antibiotics, added hormones, or steroids. In 2018, they expanded their traceable turkey program to over 200,000 turkeys, marking a significant increase from the 60,000 available the previous year. With one-third of all fresh turkeys being traceable—up from 5% the prior year—Honeysuckle White offers consumers transparency through a blockchain solution that allows tracing back to the family farm using a simple text or on-package code. Their frozen whole turkeys are pre-basted to lock in flavor, providing around 24g of protein per serving. For more information, visit their website.

Shady Brook Farms

Shady Brook Farms is a top producer of whole turkeys, raised by independent farmers with no growth-promoting antibiotics, ensuring a quality product with 24 grams of protein per serving; their turkeys are pre-basted to lock in flavor, with USDA recommending 1 lb per person when roasting; they offer both fresh and frozen options, with sizes ranging from 10-17 lbs and up, suitable for various gatherings; these turkeys are also raised without added hormones or steroids and are naturally gluten-free, making them a wholesome choice. You can find more information about their products and farming practices.

Norbest

Norbest, established in the 1920s, is a leading turkey producer known for its high-quality, USDA Grade A whole birds, with a commitment to ranch-raised practices and a focus on producing moist, flavorful turkeys; they process 125 million pounds annually and are available in various forms, including fresh, frozen, and refrigerated options, often featuring a pop-up timer for cooking convenience and are sometimes basted with a 5% solution of broth, salt, and natural flavors to enhance taste. You can find more about their products at their official website.

Diestel Turkey Ranch

Diestel Turkey Ranch, a family-owned operation since 1949, is recognized as a premium producer of whole turkeys. Raising their birds in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, they provide extra space and time to develop superior flavor. They mill their own 100% vegetarian feed on the ranch and were among the pioneers in offering certified organic products. In 2024, Diestel became the first turkey brand to achieve Regenified certification. For more information about their offerings, visit their website.

Mary's Free-Range Turkeys

Mary's Free-Range Turkeys, established in 1954, is renowned for producing some of the highest-quality whole turkeys, with a commitment to animal welfare and sustainable farming practices; their turkeys are raised with ample space and access to the outdoors, resulting in exceptional flavor and tenderness; they offer a variety of turkey options, including organic and heritage breeds, catering to different preferences and needs; Mary's Free-Range Turkeys consistently receive high ratings from consumers and chefs alike, solidifying their position as a top choice; with over 70 years of experience, they remain a trusted brand for holiday meals.

Bell & Evans

Bell & Evans has been producing high-quality, whole turkeys since the 1930s, emphasizing animal welfare and sustainable practices that contribute to their superior flavor; they are raised without antibiotics, with 100% air-chilled processing, and are fed a diet that contains no animal byproducts; the company reports that their commitment to these high standards results in a significantly better tasting turkey with less water weight; a survey conducted in 2023 by a well-known food magazine ranked Bell & Evans as one of the best tasting and highest quality turkeys on the market; you can explore their full range of products and learn more about their practices.

Perdue Farms

Perdue Farms, a leading name in poultry, is recognized as a top producer of whole turkeys, with a commitment to quality that has been evident since its founding in 1920; they proudly state that 100% of their turkeys are raised on family farms in the USA, and the brand maintains high animal welfare standards, resulting in consistently flavorful and tender birds; many customers choose Perdue for their Thanksgiving and holiday meals, and studies show high levels of satisfaction among consumers who purchased their whole turkeys; this makes Perdue a reliable choice for anyone seeking a premium whole turkey for any occasion.

Foster Farms

Foster Farms, established in 1939, is a leading poultry brand in the West, known for their fresh, all-natural whole turkeys, which are raised in climate-controlled barns with access to clean feed and water. The company ensures quality by being vertically integrated, overseeing every step from hatching to delivery, and their turkeys are minimally processed with no artificial ingredients, hormones, or steroids. Foster Farms is also committed to animal welfare, with some of their products being certified as humane and organic, and they have over 95% brand awareness in the West.