Holiday feast alternatives

By Dan Campeau
Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - Do you have family coming for the Holidays. Do you want to try something different that is delicious and really good for you and your family?

We are lucky to live in this Central area of North Carolina in that we have many locally grown alternatives to our regular Thanksgiving and Christmas fare. One example is that we can actually buy locally grown great tasting Guineas, Pheasant, and French heritage breeds of chickens for sale.

I spent the afternoon with grower Dan Braxton, who grows Guineas for Joyce Foods, Inc. Did you know it takes fourteen weeks to grow them out to market? Dan grows the guineas in an old fashioned reconverted chicken houses. It gives his family a good second income. Dan says that they are one of the best tasting birds he has ever eaten. I happen to agree with him as I was able to try it out last year at a banquet.

Ron Joyce is also working with Dr. Peter Ferket, NCSU Poultry Science Nutrition Specialist, and Virginie Blanvillian from Techna Inc in France to come up with proper rations for these special kinds of domestically raised heritage breeds of guineas, pheasant, and chickens. Dr. Ferket is also interested in doing research on growing different kinds of high quality forages for Free Range management systems.

Joyce Foods mainly caters to high end restaurants but now also markets to the private consumer via the web. To order your special holiday bird you can contact Joyce foods at Your family will always remember this meal with appreciation as it will be a great tasting meal.

Ron Joyce said he is looking for 4-6 more growers in Randolph, Chatham, or Alamance Co. to help raise his special birds. The telephone number for growers is (336)766-9900, ext. 4705 for Shari Young or ext. 4712 for Ron Joyce.

Joyce Foods, Inc will be growing over the next few years and will be working with Whole Foods and the Neiman Ranch Inc to do test marketing for his great tasting products. The web address to order on-line is www.joycefoods.com.

Hope everyone has a Great Holiday Season. Try out our locally grown alternative poultry products.

Dan Campeau, CES Area Poultry Agent, can be reached at 919-542-8202.