November is here, and that means it’s time to talk turkey. When planning your Thanksgiving meal, be sure to carve out time to choose from the best birds in the Region. You’ll find them in your local Strack & Van Til Meat Department.

This Turkey Day, customers can be thankful that Strack & Van Til makes serving Thanksgiving dinner easy. Your local Meat Department has options for cooking from scratch or ordering a fully prepared meal.

Choose from a variety of options including fresh, frozen, organic and locally raised turkeys that are perfect for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holidays.

Purchasing your poultry in advance? Strack & Van Til Meat Department Director Gary Teachman has some sage advice. “Pick up a frozen turkey such as Norbest, Butterball or Butterball Farm to Family All Natural Turkey,” he says. “Keep the turkey frozen in your freezer, defrost it a few days before Thanksgiving and check the label for defrosting instructions since your bird’s defrosting time depends on its weight.”

With Frozen Norbest tender timed young turkey, there’s no guessing on cooking time. Each bird has a pop-up timer, so you know when it’s ready. This tender, juicy turkey is mountain-raised and deep basted throughout with Norbest’s natural turkey broth and natural seasonings. It’s gluten-free, with no added fats, oils, sugars or MSG, and this Grade A premium quality turkey is backed by Norbest’s total satisfaction guarantee.

Is Butterball your family’s tradition? Pick up a flavorful Butterball Frozen whole turkey from the Strack & Van Til Meat Department. Raised without hormones on American farms, high-quality Butterball Frozen whole turkey is all-natural and gluten-free.

For a turkey that’s raised without antibiotics, opt for Farm to Family by Butterball. Fed a vegetarian diet based on whole grains, these birds are given room to grow on family farms that have been handed down from generation to generation. Farm to Family is a movement that demonstrates Butterball’s commitment to make delicious, nutritious and affordable food in a responsible way.

Mary’s Organic frozen turkey is the perfect organic option. Raised on a third-generation farm, this free-range bird is fed a vegetarian diet with no added hormones or antibiotics. It contains no preservatives and is gluten-free.

Is fresh your favorite? Choose a fresh Honeysuckle White, Butterball or “local” Ho-Ka whole turkey.

Honeysuckle White fresh whole turkey was the first turkey brand raised without growth-promoting antibiotics at a reasonable price. Tender and juicy, this turkey is pre-basted for exceptional flavor. Fresh, all-natural Butterball whole turkeys are high quality and allow customers to maintain their time-honored Butterball tradition even with no time to thaw.

Like to shop locally? Try a fresh Ho-Ka Turkey from Kauffman Turkey Farms in nearby Waterman, Illinois, one of the last independent family-owned and operated turkey farms with its own dressing plant in the country. For more than 80 years, Kauffman Turkey Farms has raised range-grown birds with an emphasis on quality. This hearty tom grows more slowly and develops a richer flavor and denser texture.

“Since there’s no need to thaw, a fresh, all-natural, high-quality whole turkey saves time,” notes Teachman. “Pick up your turkey a day or two before you need it and keep it in the fridge.”

Worried about prep time? Don’t let it ruffle your feathers. Try a quick and simple cook-in-the-bag Butterball whole 12-pound turkey. Even easier is the Butterball Fully Cooked turkey breast, which can be warmed in 45 minutes or less. Pick up all the sides and trimmings in the Deli Department and you’ve got a holiday meal made easy.

Remember, when talking about the star of the Thanksgiving table, “the bird’s the word.” Make your turkey “thyme” an easy time, and focus on your holiday feast, with the best selection of turkeys from the Strack & Van Til Meat Department.