N. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – The countdown to Thanksgiving is on and that means a very busy stretch for one beloved, family-owned farm in Lehigh County.<\/p>\n
69 News Reporter Sydney Kay stopped by Jaindl Farms in North Whitehall Township with a look at the local turkey producer and its rush for holiday orders.<\/p>\n
Turkeys are flying off the shelves at Jaindl Farms in Orefield with Thanksgiving just around the corner as shoppers are preparing their menus.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try just to plan out everything I need to do in steps so that I don\u2019t have to do everything the morning of,\u201d said Brandy Gonzalez, a shopper from Catasauqua.<\/p>\n
The family-owned farm has perfected its own recipe for the holiday, being a staple to thousands looking for a turkey on their dinner tables.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do the breeding, we do the hatching, we do the processing, the growing, and the distribution of the turkeys,\u201d explained Jaindl Farms owner, David Jaindl.<\/p>\n
Jaindl tells 69 News the process of how they are a fully self-reliant farm.<\/p>\n
The skyrocketing company started with his dad, grandfather, and just five turkeys in 1933.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think close to 600,000 for Thanksgiving alone, we grew 800,000 turkeys this year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The tradition is also on the land, utilizing 14,000 acres for corn, soybeans, and small grains. All fresh crops are used to feed the turkeys.<\/p>\n
The rush to the holidays is currently putting their process in high gear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going six to seven days a week right now in harvest, running 12 to 14 hour shifts,\u201d said Ethan Keichel, the Assistant Farm Manager.<\/p>\n
Inside the shop, customers continue to pile in on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our retail store we can see up to 700 to 1,000 customers per day, in the days leading up to Thanksgiving,\u201d said retail store manager Heather George.<\/p>\n
Offering all the fixins in a new \u201cFeast Box\u201d and pre-orders to help with lines, the workers here say they thrive in the busy season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanksgiving is like a marathon,\u201d George said.<\/p>\n