By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN – Some Americans spend less than $50 for an entire Thanksgiving Day meal, but there are New Yorkers who shell out over $200 for just the turkey.
Gourmet grocer Dean and DeLuca in SoHo has sold well over 200 sustainable, organic birds at a cost of $100, $200 or more per turkey, according to store management.
The supermarket sells premium brand Eberly and Heritage organic free-range turkeys for $7 and $9 per pound, respectively.
Kristine Lam, who is celebrating Thanksgiving in SoHo, bought a small 10-pound Heritage turkey for her and two cousins for $92.34.
“It’s the centerpiece,” said Lam. “I’m willing to pay more for that.”
The average cost nationwide to feed 10 people on Thanksgiving this year is $42.91 — including the turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and more — according to the latest annual survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
But many Manhattanites are spending four times that price for a turkey — even during difficult economic times.
“Turkey sales are doing great,” said a Dean and DeLuca manager Steve Millard, in the middle of store’s buzzing produce section on Wednesday. “We are selling many more than last year.”
Dean and DeLuca’s turkey sales were down last year due to the recession, management said. But this year the store has seen “definite growth in sales,” according to Millard.
Heritage turkeys — which are believed to be the most expensive brand — come from specialty breeders that mate the birds humanely to prevent extinction. They roam as they wish, eat sumptuous grains and mate with other prized birds.
“I like that it’s organic, without hormones and supports a good cause,” Lam said after buying her bird.
The turkeys are distributed locally by Heritage Foods USA out of its Brooklyn office and farmed mostly out of Kansas.
Heritage Foods USA partner Sarah Obraitis said that their turkey sales are “right on target.”
Heritage has sold more than 10,000 turkeys ranging in price from $119 to $229 to individual consumers, restaurants and supermarkets.
Heritage turkeys have been sold this year to Balthazar, Artisanal and restaurants by Daniel Boulud.
