We just had one of our last heritage chickens, a Buff Orpington raised this year for supper and the multidimensional flavor that each bite delivered was just plum delicious. Our chickens this past week moved past our plum trees that we have in our wildlife planting, which also serves as a wind break for our dairy cattle, and as the cattle with the chickens in tow in there chicken mobile reached the far end of the paddock, some of the chickens would still wonder back to the plum trees now almost a 1/2 mile away. I don't know of any certified organic chickens that have that kind of freedom. Or any one who raises the fast growing cornish rock chicken, think Golden Plump stare in the face chicken bought at the local grocery or chain store, that will be able to match the flavor found from a chicken that has the freedom to walk a 1/2 mile to eat plums. Think of the muscles developed and strong hearts and livers that come from good natural food and lots of exercise. These chickens are no couch potatoes. I have often wondered of the wisdom of the white meat is good for you statistics produced by someone from corporate paid for labortory. The chicken breast found in your super markets all came from the Cornish Rock breed of chicken known to produce lots of white meat quickly. Most of what is found in the stores has been mass produced with the chicken getting very little exercise. A bird has a lot of breast muscle because it is these muscles that are used in flight. I have yet to see a Cornish Rock chicken get more than a foot off the ground. So what kind off muscle is being produced on these couch potatoes. Can it really be that healthy for you? They do cook faster and are of a more tender texture than my heritage breed chickens. Is that better for you?
Saves energy, don't need to chew as long, meal is done faster, more time to do other things. I myself prefer a chicken that has had the freedom to run and actually uses that freedom to walk a half a mile to get some really tasty tibits, Plums for example, even if I have to cook it longer and chew a little longer.
You will only find Fresh Air Heritage chickens sold through the buying clubs that support the Whole Farm Coop. You won't find any of these multidimensional tasting chickens in any stores. So tell your friends and associates and introduce them to the Whole Farm Coop and our grass roots effort to create a new food culture that encourages sustainability that leaves opportunities for the future while producing really good food.
Heritage chicken! They are plum delicious.