John and Laura Wehrly feeding their 300 free range turkeys at Ravensdale, Co Louth. These turkeys are fed predominantly on wheat and grass and are for the Christmas market.

Irish consumers will consume 950,000 turkeys this festive season. Approximately 326,000 turkeys will be imported to Ireland for the Christmas market, supplying the wholesale and butcher markets.

IFA Poultry chairman Nigel Renaghan has urged consumers to support local farmers by buying Irish reared turkeys this Christmas.

“Buy an Irish turkey and be sure of what you’re getting for Christmas,” said Reneghan. “Irish turkeys are reared to the highest possible welfare standards and are fully traceable back to farm.”

“By buying Irish you will be supporting the hard work put in year-round on family farms throughout the country to produce top quality, sustainable food.”

The IFA Poultry chairman thanked all retailers who are supporting Irish and providing their customers with an Irish reared turkey this Christmas.

Nigel Renaghan urged consumers who want to buy Irish and to support Irish farmers to check origin labels or to challenge the butcher or retailer directly about the origin of their meat. He reminded consumers who wish to buy free range turkeys that they should ensure products are certified free range.

This week we visit turkey grower Eoin Sharkey from Co Meath for My Farming Week.