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If you're prepared to go the extra mile for your turkey, go straight to the source. It's called farm-gate shopping - buying directly from your local farmer.

Most small producers raise their birds organically, or at least use natural farming practices. Butchering takes place this week - just make sure you call the farmer first to reserve. A bird will cost about $2.95 a pound and ring in at around 18 pounds at butchering.

Halifax region

Holdanca Farms sells pasture-based turkey, chicken, pork and goats naturally raised on their 500-acre family farm. Less than an hour north of Halifax in Cumberland County. 902-257-1871Montreal region

Morgan Highland Farm sells wild turkeys, Muscovy ducks, guinea fowl, geese, chicken, wild boar, sausages and eggs. Less than an hour north of Montreal on the Laurentian Autoroute. 514-274-1316 ext. 223, fermemorgan.comToronto region

Fenwood Farm, located near Ancaster, farm-gates organic and free-range turkeys as well as organic and free-range chicken and organic beef. They also sell their turkeys at the Healthy Butcher on Queen Street West and at Hallelujah Organics in Newmarket, Ont. 905-765-1479, fenwood-

farm.com

Ottawa region

Milton's Paradise Farm in McDonalds Corners sells organic turkey, lamb and in-season vegetables. 613-278-2448

Winnipeg region

Pop's Farm in Manitoba's Interlake Region and the Front-Tier organic wild turkey farm in the Pembina Valley have stress-free environments for their birds. Front-Tier's wild turkeys mature in 25 to 30 weeks, as opposed to 14 to 16 weeks for domestic turkeys. 204-269-0658, organicbreadbasket.com.

Saskatoon region

At Pine View Farms, 15 minutes north of Saskatoon near Osler, the Boldt family raise all their meats according to an all-natural protocol: humanely and on a vegetarian diet, without the use of steroids or hormones. Customers can also buy their turkeys at select locations in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.

306-239-4763, pineview-

farms.comEdmonton region

Sunworks Farm, 45 minutes from Edmonton, raises certified organic turkeys, Embden geese, chickens, lamb, beef and pork. They also sell their healthy products through the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market in Edmonton and the Calgary Farmers' Market. 780-672-9799, sunworksfarm.comCalgary region

Country Lane Farms Ltd. sells antibiotic-free holiday turkeys. The Kamphuis family raise tasty birds and if you can't get to them, they can get to you via their Country Lane trucks that regularly head to Calgary drop-off points.

403-934-2755, great-chicken.com

Vancouver region

Rossdown Farm Market, located in the Fraser Valley, is the only family-operated, completely integrated poultry farm in British Columbia. The Wiebe family farm-gates free-range, hormone-free turkey, chicken and ducks.

604-856-5578, rossdown.com