For meals that are protein packed, crowd pleasing, and budget friendly, start with delicious, versatile turkey from Honeysuckle White®.
For many households, Honeysuckle White turkey is a staple for holiday meals and a go-to choice year-round. But just who is behind this popular poultry brand? Let’s take a closer look at the maker of Honeysuckle White turkey products.
Overview of Honeysuckle White Turkey
Honeysuckle White is one of the most recognizable turkey brands in grocery stores across America They offer a wide range of products including whole turkeys, turkey breasts, ground turkey, sausages, and more
Honeysuckle White turkeys are known for:
- Being raised without growth-promoting antibiotics
- Traced from farm to table for quality and safety
- Meeting USDA standards as a Process Verified Program participant
- Providing lean, high-protein options
But who actually makes these turkeys that grace holiday tables? Here’s a look inside the company behind the Honeysuckle White brand
Cargill Is the Maker
The manufacturer behind Honeysuckle White turkey products is Cargill. This company is one of the largest privately held corporations in the United States.
Some key facts about Cargill:
- Global agribusiness with headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Founded in 1865 and currently has over 155,000 employees
- Operates in 70 countries across diverse sectors like food, agriculture, financial services, and more
- Raises turkeys and produces Honeysuckle White branded products
So while Honeysuckle White is the name consumers see in stores, it is Cargill that actually raises, processes, and packages these turkeys before they reach grocery store shelves.
Vertically Integrated Process
As a vertically integrated company, Cargill controls all aspects of production from the turkey farms to the packaged products.
For Honeysuckle White turkeys, this includes:
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Hatcheries – Cargill owns hatcheries that produce the poultry.
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Feed – They make specialized feed for the turkeys.
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Farms – The turkeys are raised at company-owned and contract farms.
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Processing – Cargill owns facilities to process and package the Honeysuckle White products.
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Distribution – They distribute the packaged turkeys to stores.
By controlling these steps, Cargill can better monitor safety, quality, and efficiency.
The Honeysuckle White Difference
While Cargill produces turkeys under other brand names too, Honeysuckle White turkeys stand out with certain attributes:
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Verified program – Meets USDA Process Verified Program standards
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No growth antibiotics – Raised without growth-promoting antibiotics
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Farm traceability – Can trace turkey back to the farm source
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Handling practices – Farmer training on proper animal handling
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** Lean protein** – Emphasis on lean, high-protein products
These differentiators help position Honeysuckle White as a premium turkey brand within Cargill’s broad poultry portfolio.
Long History in Turkey Production
With over 150 years of experience as a leading food producer, Cargill has been in the turkey business for decades.
Some turkey milestones over their history include:
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1943 – Opened first turkey processing plant
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1946 – Introduced Cargill Turkeys as a brand
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2003 – Acquired Sun Valley and created Honeysuckle White
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2022 – Opened a new $500 million turkey processing facility
Their long-standing expertise and continued investment in turkey production enable Cargill to supply high volumes of Honeysuckle White turkeys to meet consumer demand year after year.
Turkey Leader Today
Today, Cargill remains one of the top turkey producers in the nation under brands like Honeysuckle White. Their vertically integrated process allows them to control quality from farm to table.
So as you sit down to your next turkey meal, know that it likely came from the large-scale turkey production system of Cargill to bring their Honeysuckle White products to your family’s table.
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30 Minutes or Less
How to Prepare a Honeysuckle White Turkey
FAQ
Who owns Honeysuckle turkey?
- In a pilot project, consumers could text or enter a code on the packaging to learn more about the farm that raised their turkey.
- This included the farm’s location, photos, and a message from the farmer.
Is a honeysuckle turkey a good brand?
Juicy moist bird
I love Honeysuckle White turkeys. I have used other brands but I prefer Honeysuckle White, the turkey always comes out perfectly roasted, juicy and tender. Never any dry “spots”. In my family I have a reputation of making the best, moist, roast turkey.
Where do honeysuckle white turkeys come from?
Where are Honeysuckle White® turkeys raised? Our turkeys come from Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Learn more about our family farmers.
What is the rating of honeysuckle turkey?
Frozen Bone-in Turkey Breast 4.2 out of 5 stars, average rating value. Read 40 Reviews. Same page link. Honeysuckle White® is the first to offer frozen bone-in turkey breasts raised without growth-promoting antibiotics at a price comparable to conventionally raised turkeys.
Who makes honeysuckle white turkeys?
Honeysuckle White can trace its roots all the way back to the 1930s, when it began as a small family farm in Minnesota After gaining popularity locally for their turkeys, the brand expanded into a large commercial operation by the 1950s Today Honeysuckle White turkeys are raised by family farmers across the Midwest.
Is honeysuckle white a good Turkey brand?
Honeysuckle White is a very good turkey brand, especially for naturally-raised birds with verified origins. But other reputable brands like Butterball, Norbest, and Jennie-O also have competitive advantages. We recommend buying Honeysuckle White when you see it on sale or want to take advantage of the traceable, free-range attributes.
Are Butterball & honeysuckle white turkeys organic?
Since both Butterball and Honeysuckle White are brands specializing in turkey meat, they take utmost care of how their turkeys are raised. Both brands use farm-raised turkeys fed with organic food, mainly grains, and soy, but they also provide their turkeys with animal protein to follow the turkeys’ natural carnivorous diet.
Are honeysuckle white turkeys frozen?
Honeysuckle White turkeys are sold frozen at major grocery chains across the United States. You can find their wide selection of premium products: Be sure to check labels closely for the Honeysuckle White brand when buying turkey from your grocer’s frozen section.
Do honeysuckle white turkeys need to be cooked?
Honeysuckle White turkeys require cooking unless explicitly labeled “fully cooked.” Most of their products are raw, whole turkeys, breasts, and ground meat that must be prepared. What is the Honeysuckle White turkey traceability program?