For many families, turkey is a cherished centerpiece of holiday meals and a tasty, lean protein to enjoy year-round But not all turkeys are created equal – if you want premium quality and delicious old-fashioned flavor, Diestel turkey is a top choice Keep reading to learn all about Diestel turkey and what sets it apart.
Overview of Diestel Turkey
Diestel Family Ranch, a family-owned company based in California, has been raising turkeys since 1949. Over the past 70+ years, Diestel has stayed committed to their core values of animal welfare, sustainability, and delivering exceptionally tasty turkey to customers.
Diestel turkeys are
- Pasture-Raised – Turkeys live outdoors with space to roam on rotating pastures
- Vegetarian-Fed – Their diet is plant-based, with no animal by-products or artificial ingredients
- Heritage Breeds – Diestel uses heritage turkey breeds prized for flavor like Bourbon Red and Narragansett
- Humane Harvest – Birds are raised humanely from hatch to harvest following the highest welfare standards
- No Compromises – Diestel never cuts corners when it comes to animal care, feed, or sustainability
By sticking to their principles and time-tested farming methods Diestel produces premium turkeys packed with old-fashioned flavor consumers love.
How Diestel Turkeys Are Raised
From the moment they hatch to harvest day, Diestel turkeys are raised humanely with their well-being top of mind:
- Hatching – Poults (baby turkeys) hatch from eggs in a controlled, safe environment
- Brooder Barns – Poults live in warm, spacious barns with shavings for the first 4 weeks
- Pasture Access – At 5 weeks, turkeys move outdoors to shelters and rotational pastures
- Enrichment – Natural pecking perches and light stimulate natural behaviors
- Fresh Air & Sun – Outdoor access provides exercise, sunshine, and fresh air
- Vegetarian Diet – Turkeys eat a custom plant-based diet with no by-products or chemicals
- Humane Care – Expert handlers treat the birds respectfully throughout their lives
- Humane Harvesting – Diestel uses approved, low-stress harvesting methods
This natural, ethical approach to raising turkeys results in happy, healthy birds that yield exceptionally delicious meat.
Why Diestel Tastes Better
With their focus on heritage breeds, pasture-raising, and humane care, Diestel turkeys offer an incredible old-fashioned flavor you just can’t find in typical supermarket birds. Here’s why they taste so good:
- Heritage Breeds – These traditional breeds are prized for rich, robust flavor over bland commercial turkeys.
- Pasture Access – Free-range exercise and foraging leads to great muscle tone and flavor.
- Vegetarian Diet – The custom feed provides perfect nutrition for moist, tender meat.
- Low Stress – Calm handling prevents abnormal pH levels that affect taste.
- Artisan Processing – Minimal seasonings and old-world smoking methods preserve real turkey flavor.
Additionally, Diestel hand selects only the plumpest, best-looking turkeys to carry their name, so you get premium quality.
Diestel Turkey Product Options
As a premium bird typically sold direct from the farm, Diestel turkeys are pricier than standard grocery store varieties but deliver outstanding quality and taste. Diestel offers:
- Whole Turkeys – Fresh or frozen heritage breed turkeys ranging from 10 to 24 pounds. Figure 1-2 pounds per person.
- Parts – Bone-in and boneless turkey breasts, wings, thighs, drumsticks, etc. for versatile meals.
- Deli Meats – Premium sliced meats like smoked turkey, oven roasted turkey, and turkey pastrami.
- Ground Turkey – Juicy ground turkey from whole muscle meat, with no by-products.
- Sausage & Hot Dogs – Flavorful plant-based sausages, kielbasa, and franks.
Cooking Your Diestel Turkey
With a quality turkey like Diestel, simple preparation is best to let the natural flavor shine. Tips for cooking include:
- Minimal Seasoning – A basic olive oil rub with herbs/spices is often enough.
- Low & Slow – Roast slowly at 325°F, allowing ample time to cook through and get ultra juicy.
- Let It Rest – Let the cooked turkey rest 15-30 minutes so juices can absorb back into the meat.
From wholesome ingredients to humane care, Diestel remains committed to delivering the best possible turkey eating experience. Next holiday season or anytime you want amazing flavor, seek out the Diestel brand for turkeys raised right and satisfaction guaranteed.
Last Name is Just the Start
This ranch has been in our family for more than 70 years. In that time, the Diestel family has grown a lot—and not just by blood. We are grateful to all of our customers, partners, and team members who have helped us grow. We will do everything we can to treat them well.
Every year, we give more than 100,000 pounds of turkey to our local food bank and work with groups like Meals on Wheels. We also help schools with their gardens by giving them compost from our ranch. This helps the next generation of meat lovers learn how to grow and value real, whole, natural foods.
And like any family, we take care of our own. Our team members earn more than a paycheck. As well as paid time off to do the things they love, they also get matched retirement accounts and chances to grow professionally and personally. With how much time we spend shoulder-to-shoulder, it’s the least we could do.
Our Turkey Makes Mama Proud
We’re fanatical when it comes to our birds, but our obsession doesn’t end there. As much love and care as we put into making sure our products are safe and of good quality,
Everything we offer is made to make a mouth monsoon. It takes more than a big, brave, beautiful bird that has been raised in a special way. We source the finest, cleanest, tastiest ingredients and use only what’s essential to make our birds sing. (In a lot of cases, that means using nothing. We season and brine our turkey with simple, tasty ingredients, and our smoked turkey spends hours in real hardwood smoke. Our products are never made from scraps or trimmings. Our ground turkey is made from whole muscle turkey, which gives it a divine, luscious texture and the best taste possible.
You can be sure that whatever you order will be a handcrafted work of poultry art by the time it gets to your table. It will have the flavor and texture you want when you’re craving something.
Diestel Turkey Ranch | Meet the Ranchers | Whole Foods Market
FAQ
Where do Diestel turkeys come from?
Why are Diestel turkeys so expensive to buy?
Are all Diestel turkeys organic?
Is Diestel turkey being recalled?
What types of turkeys does Diestel family ranch produce?
The Broad Breasted White is the most common commercially bred turkey on the market in the United States. But Diestel Family Ranch produces a variety of breeds, including organic American heirloom turkeys.
How does Diestel Turkey Ranch support regenerative farming?
This Earth month, Diestel Turkey Ranch is donating 1% of sales New Seasons Market to the nonprofit Zero Foodprint . Their mission is to help farmers and ranchers implement regenerative farming practices.
What is the history of Diestel family ranch?
The Diestel Family Ranch has been in the family for over 70 years. It all began with Great Uncle Ernest, who taught our Grandpa Jack everything he knew. With Great Uncle Ernest’s time-tested techniques and honest philosophies, Grandpa Jack founded our humble farm in 1949.