Chicken sale at local online farmers' market

heldeberg market chicken saleHeldeberg Market -- the local online farmers' market -- has a sale on chicken this week. "All-natural ... anti-biotic, hormone and preservative free" whole chickens from Mountain Winds Farm are roughly $3/pound.

Sure, that's more expensive than what you'd pay for a "regular" chicken in the supermarket, but for a local "all natural" bird, that seems like not a bad price. And if you're wondering what you'd do with a whole chicken, we have one word for you: soup.

If you want a chicken this week, you have to order by the end of today (delivery is on Thursday).

Speaking of Heldeberg Market... Has anyone used this online market? How was the experience? Were the products good?

Earlier on AOA:
+ Details from Heldeberg Market's launch this past summer.
+ Changing Albany's chicken laws

Comments

The eggs are fantastic, way better than those at the store. And the bacon, lamb shanks and hamburger I have gotten have been terrific.

It's a nice way to eat better, healthier, less processed food. It comes at a slight premium, but I also think I am doing my partt to support local farmers.

I order from Heldeberg almost every week; we have a work pool and usually avoid the delivery charge.

As Delmaron says, the eggs are awesome. If you really think $3 and change for a dozen eggs is too expensive, just drop the cash as an experiment and crack one open right next to the $.89/doz factory farm variety. You'll see the difference instantly. They seem to keep much longer too, though I can't say for sure because they usually don't last more than a week. The fact that the chickens are humanely raised is a bonus; just concentrate on the better quality if you're a contrarian political reactionary.

Yes, most of it is more expensive than the stuff on the shelf in the supermarket. But it tastes better, you're supporting hardworking local farmers, and sometimes you can get a nice surprise. And sometimes cost isn't an issue, either; just look at these freaking tomatoes. They were less than you'd pay for bland hothouse force-ripened grossness. I've been picking up lamb liver for around $2 a pound too, and if I'm eating an aminal's filtration system, I definitely want to know it was treated well.

Yes, three thumbs up for Heldeberg. Don't ask where that extra thumb came from. And my vote goes to spatchcocking, brining, and roasting the chicken this time of year (grill it in the summer). Use the carcass for stock and go to souptown with that.

I'm a simple man with simple tastes, but if I had a whole bird, and a bit of time, I would dry it thoroughly, inside and out, brush it with melted butter, and generously salt and pepper the skin. Then I'd do a dangerously low heat roast a la Cook's Illustrated.

But I do agree with B that I'd use the leftover bones and scraps for soup. In my mind there is little finer than a perfect roast chicken.

The produce is fresh and beautiful. The meat is awesome and it comes really well packaged, better than the meat you buy in a grocery store. And delivery is right on time.

For someone who doesn't live near the co-op or a regular farmer's market and wants good, natural locally produced food, this is the answer! And if you're already used to buying this sort of food, the pricing is right in line. Give it a try!

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