Everyone loves the food at Thanksgiving the creamy mashed potatoes, bittersweet cranberries and rich homemade pies. But many don't anticipate the main dish, turkey, because it often has a dry, bland flavor. Change, though, is in the air, or, rather, on the table. At your family feast this year, turkey can reclaim its glory, and rightfully take its place as the mouthwatering centerpiece of a great Thanksgiving feast. The secret to this success is a heritage turkey.

Heritage turkeys are the varied and beautiful ancestors of the (selectively bred) high-yield, low-flavor and no-variety broad-breasted white turkeys that appear on millions of tables every fourth Thursday in November. Unlike their cage-raised, monoculture descendants, heritage turkeys boast a range of textures and tastes. For a firm, moist bird with serious flavor, you can choose from a variety of heritage turkeys for the big day. Thanks to a dedicated group of breeders, heritage species are being saved from obscurity and extinction.

Heritage turkeys aren't raised on factory farms, but often free-range, which means healthier birds and healthier meat. And these truly traditional turkeys are becoming increasingly popular, so be sure to contact a local farmer well in advance to secure one for your family table. You can find heritage turkey breeders online at