From the marketing lady with turkey for brains, and a whole lot of appreciation for Maine farmers.
Dear Neighbor,
I’ve had turkey on the brain this week—and when you check out our Thanksgiving Preorder page, you’ll understand why. This time of year, I often joke that I literally have turkey for brains.
Thanksgiving is one of Rosemont’s biggest holidays. I mean, how could it not be? A whole day centered around delicious Maine food, shared with the people you love most. It’s such a big day that we start planning way months in advance. Erin Lynch, our Director of Operations and unofficial Thanksgiving expert (this year is her 20th Thanksgiving at Rosemont!), walked into my office on June 1st and said, “I am placing our turkey order this week—what do you think? 1,000 Organic and 500 Free-range?” June 1st! It wasn’t even summer yet.
But it’s not just big for us—it’s also huge for the farmers we work with. Both of our Maine turkey farmers, Tide Mill Organic Farm and Maine-ly Poultry, only sell their turkeys to us. That means two whole families are relying on our community’s support to keep farming for another year.
Now you get why I’ve got turkey for brains, right?
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This past winter, we were lucky enough to receive a marketing grant from the state of Maine to help us promote local farmers and producers. More on that soon!When we were thinking about where we wanted to start, Tide Mill Organic Farm was a no-brainer.They are an exceptional partner and from what we Mainers call “up they-ah”—meaning it’s way far North, nestled between Machias and Eastport. This is the first place the sun rises in North America, in case you didn’t know!
Tide Mill has been in the Bell family for nine generations—since 1765. When my dad (Rosemont owner John Naylor) and I arrived on a recent visit, we were greeted by Jane, a 7th-generation farmer who focuses on dairy. Aaron, our turkey farmer Jane’s son and an 8th-generation farmer, met us soon after—he’d just finished rounding up 200 turkeys for Rosemont. Quick history note (because my dad’s a history buff and would never forgive me if I left this out): Tide Mill got its name from an actual tide mill that used to make paper, powered by the enormous tidal rise on their property—almost 30 feet!
We talked with Aaron and his parents for a while, and two young guys came roaring over the hill in a 4-wheeler—Henry, Aaron’s son (9th generation farmer!), and his best friend from high school. They work summer jobs on the farm and were coming to fill grain buckets to feed the turkeys. Following them through the rolling hills of Tide Mill Farm was a very special moment for us. This farm is an incredible place to be—whether you’re a human or a turkey.
Bounding around the incredible landscape The turkeys were quite photogenic in their natural setting. We snapped some shots while they jumped around and then hitched a ride on the 4-wheeler.
Every turkey and chicken at Tide Mill are processed right there on the farm. Aaron’s mom said it best as we were leaving: “Every animal is loved here.” And you can feel it. The Bell family isn’t in this for the money. Their mission is to provide real, organic food—free from chemicals, preservatives, and additives. They want to make sure people can eat well, live well, and to help keep farming alive in Washington County.
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This mission resonates with our mission at Rosemont. We don’t do this for the money (because trust me, it’s not a big moneymaker). We do it because we love good food, building community, and supporting farmers like the Bells—people who care about the land, the animals, and the food they provide to our tables.
I’m lucky. Growing up, there was always a Maine-raised turkey on my Thanksgiving table—usually the one someone forgot to pick up (or one time, the one my dad pulled from a customer’s compost bin… long story, but it was still good, I promise!). My hope is that this year, when you’re planning your holiday meal, you’ll think about the Bell family and impact serving Maine grown food has in our state. They work hard year-round to raise incredible poultry, and while it might cost a little more, it is reflective of the true cost of responsibly raised food. Order your turkey today!
Thanks for being part of our Rosemont community, and for supporting local farmers.
Finn Naylor
Rosemont Marketing Director
& Proud Supporter of Maine Farms
