We have stopped buying from Plainville Farms due to their violation of animal welfare standards.
We have stopped buying from Plainville Farms due to their violation of animal welfare standards. An incredibly upsetting PETA video showed workers kicking and throwing turkeys. We investigated the charges and met with representatives of Plainville Farms. The charges are credible, and Plainville Farms executives did not try to deny them.
Plainville withheld information about this incident and instructed their employees not to talk about it. We found out about it through social media. When we met with Plainville executives, their solution was to outsource the “catch” portion of their operation to a third party. It was not clear if or when their animal welfare certification would be reinstated.
Based on the incident and Plainville’s response, we made the decision to stop doing business with Plainville Farms.
We have found great alternative suppliers for Thanksgiving turkeys and deli meats.
Jaindl Farms is our new supplier for fresh turkeys.
Jaindl Family Farms will supply fresh Thanksgiving turkeys. They are a multigenerational family farm that has raised turkeys since 1933. Our meat merchandiser Carolyn Twesten is visiting Jaindl this week to see their operation. Learn more about Jaindl here.
- We will have an abundant supply of fresh, all-natural antibiotic-free turkeys. However, we won’t have organic turkeys.
- Our Food House will roast turkeys for complete meals and will also roast a la carte turkey breasts. However, we won’t be able to offer a la carte roasted whole turkeys.
Applegate Farms is our new supplier for sliced deli meats.
Applegate will supply deli meats that we are unable to source from local purveyors. Learn more about Applegate here. Due to Covid19 production and trucking issues, there may be occasional short-term supply shortages.
Being Your Buying Agent Is Our Most Important Job
We take the job of being your buying agent very seriously. Whether its buying from local farmers or international producer co-ops, we aim to develop deep and trusting relationships. When that trust is broken, we need to say: “No, we do not accept that. It does not meet our owners’ values and needs.”
While I am excited about the new possibilities of working with Jaindl and Applegate, I’m also saddened by the situation at Plainville Farms and sobered by the merchandising department’s responsibility to find the most ethical suppliers for you. I want you to that we take this seriously and appreciate the trust that you place in Weaver Street Market.
–James Watts, Head Merchandiser