If we want to save them, we must eat them! This is the position Heritage Foods USA takes on saving heirloom animal breeds that were left behind in the industrialization of American agriculture, resulting in cheap, homogenous, bland-tasting animals raised on factory farms. Heritage Foods USA, formed in 2001 as the sales and marketing arm for Slow Food USA, has helped to preserve endangered livestock breeds by selling foods from small farms to consumers and wholesale accounts and increasing public awareness.

Heritage Foods USA's first project to save American food traditions, The Heritage Turkey Project, helped double the population of heritage turkeys in the United States and upgraded the Bourbon Red turkey from "rare" to "watch" status on conservation lists.  Now they have started working to save Native American foods, as well all breeds of food livestock.  Their website includes links for ordering a variety of responsibly raised products from a network of small farms across the country. 

We had our first heritage turkey for Thanksgiving the year Heritage Foods USA started the project, and its flavor was eye-opening.  Rich, intensely turkey-y and much more modest in the pectoral area than your average Butterball!  The gravy was to die for.  As with any product with limited availability, the heritage turkeys are not cheap; but not only are you getting a tastier bird, you’re supporting a small family farm that has done things the right way: taken good care of its animals, minimized environmental damage and preserved an historic breed.  That’s something to give thanks for!