Meet Your Farmer: Let’s talk more than turkey

If the local food movement is all about knowing where your food comes from, then you’ve got to go to Bolton’s.

“How cool is it to come to the farm and buy right from it?” says Torrie Bolton, who with her brother, Todd, run this third generation family farm in Silverdale, Pa.

“We’re raising turkeys the same way our grandfather did,” adds Torrie, “No antibiotics, no hormones.” Torrie runs the retail market that sits at the front of the property. Glance behind the market, up the hill and you’ll see the farm where the Boltons raise their turkeys, chickens and beef.

Bolton’s is most known for their own special breed of double-breasted turkeys. People come from miles around to buy turkeys for Thanksgiving.

But few realize that they raise ten thousand turkeys year round on their 30 acre farm. In fact they are the only turkey farm in Bucks County.

Torrie’s grandfather, Charles Bolton, bought the property in 1933 and started raising chickens but people kept asking for turkey and beef, so he added those as well. In 1980, Charles Jr. – Torrie and Todd’s father – took over running the farm. Now Torrie and Todd run the operation.

“People like to know where their food is coming from,” says Torrie, “and everything is so fresh.” The turkeys are raised in the same open air pens built by Charles Sr., the chickens are allowed to roam free in the barn and the cattle are fed on pasture for the most part, with some grain and hay in the feed mix.

The animals are raised “naturally” – no antibiotics, no hormones. But the feed is not organic, explains Torrie, so they can’t be certified organic. “It’s because we don’t want to buy organic feed from India or China. We’d rather buy our grain locally.” They mix the feed in their own feed mill on the property, and raise their own corn and hay too.

But Bolton’s is more than turkey. Step into the retail market, opened in 1989 and already outgrowing the building – and you’ll see what I mean.

Produce fills the center of the store, stocked with Bolton’s own tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, corn and more. The rest of the full produce selection comes from other local farms, and changes with the seasons. You’ll find Pennview bottled milk (from Perkasie), Alderfer’s organic eggs, Longacres ice cream, and McCutcheon’s jams, jellies, relishes and condiments.

Then there’s the poultry, beef and turkey products. Bolton’s has fresh Black Angus beef available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays including ground beef, 7 -8 different roast cuts, 5 -6 kinds of steak and other beef cuts. They sell their fresh chicken whole and cut.

In addition to offering whole turkeys, they also offer turkey parts, like turkey cutlets – smoked, marinated and regular – and smoked turkey. They also make from turkey: hotdogs, bratwursts, knockwurst, kielbasa, grillers, bacon, patties, sausage (breakfast, mild, hot and smoked), scrapple, and sliced turkey lunchmeats, all made without fillers or preservatives.

There’s also the very popular turkey pot pies, soups and other ready-to-eat products. Fresh baked pies, breads and cookies from Pappy’s Orchard and Lisa’s Kitchen (Coopersburg) and Amish baked goods too.

Silverdale isn’t far. Route 113 is the main drag, and it’s only three miles from the intersection of Routes 313 and 113, minutes from Dublin and Perkasie in Upper Bucks County.

In fact, you could do a “meat tour,” stopping in Blooming Glen on the way to pick up some pork at Blooming Glen Pork Products and grass-fed, pastured beef at Tussock Sedge Farm (order ahead). Pasqualina’s Italian Market is in Blooming Glen too and a great place to pick up Italian specialties and delicious sandwiches.

You’ll find Bolton’s at 1005 Main Street (Route 113) in Silverdale, online at www.boltonfarmmarket.com and on Facebook. Reach them by phone at 215.257.6047. They are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 6 pm, Saturdays 9:30 am to 5 pm and closed on Sundays.