In you live in central Illinois, check out these homegrown sources for special holiday foods:

Yordy Turkey Farm
2000 S. Main
Morton, Illinois
Phone: (309) 263-2891
http://www.yordyturkey.com/
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday during November and December.
Other times by appointment.
Brent Yordy recommends calling ahead to reserve your turkey for the holidays. Availability includes resh, whole turkeys, bone-in and boneless breasts, drumsticks and thighs, wings, giblets and necks and hickory smoked turkeys. In addition, Yordy’s offers an all-natural turkey rub featuring their own blend of 10 herbs and spices.

Heritage Farmers Market
20235 Illinois Rte. 9
Pekin, Illinois
Phone: (309) 620-0616
Open Saturday from 8:30 to 4 p.m., Monday- Friday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Doug Sassman and his team of farmers will have a variety of poultry and meats available for the holidays including steaks, roasts, heritage turkeys, chicken, rabbit and pheasants. Turkeys are limited, so the market offers a sign-up sheet to customers can make a reservation by phone or a visit to the market.

Blue Ridge Family Farm
22501 Berchtold Rd.
Chillicothe, Illinois
Phone: (309) 274-2228
By appointment.
During the holidays, Jim Hicks has legs of lamb available, along with lamb chops, stew meat and ground lamb. Special requests for a rack of lamb or a crown roast can be accommodated with proper notice. Call ahead to arrange pick-up in Peoria or at the farm.


-GE, 11/7/08