Gerard Turkey Farm, Marshfield

Raymond and Clara Gerard came to Massachusetts in 1923 looking for a bit of land to call their own. They found a 13-acre property ideal for raising turkeys, and instantly made it into both their home and livelihood. For a while, bird-breeding business was good; by 1950, they were hatching over 190,000 birds. Ray even got to work with Cornell University to develop the standard Beltsville White turkey breed, now a staple of Thanksgiving tables around America. Slowly, though, business transitioned from raising turkeys to cooking them.

Today, the third – and sometimes fourth – generation of Gerards run the farm as a kitchen, preparing entire Thanksgiving meals for customers. They, of course, specialize in slow-roasted turkeys. They fill each bird with classic, bread-based stuffing, and even turn the leavings into a hearty gravy. They tend to get a lot of customers around the holidays, and recommend ordering in advance for special occasions.