Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
METHUEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Kim Ellis of Raymond's Turkey Farm in Methuen is used to seeing long lines in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
"It is the busiest week customer-wise, but we have been working towards this all year long," Ellis told WBZ NewsRadio Wednesday.
Since Ellis's grandparents started the farm in 1950, Raymond's has been raising and packaging their own fresh turkeys for hungry customers. The farm sells around 7-8,000 turkeys every holiday season.
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"We start taking turkey orders for Thanksgiving right after Labor Day," Ellis said.
On the day before Thanksgiving, a line of people extended far out the door, all of them anxious to get their hands on the tasty birds.
"The line was over 100 deep plus," a police officer said while directing traffic. "So it’s the quality of the turkey that they get here, people are willing to wait for it."
Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
Customers agree that the quality and freshness of Raymond's turkeys are what keeps them coming back, even if they have to wait.
"I think it’s just that we like to get a fresh turkey and it’s always tasted great, and we just stay with that," one customer told WBZ NewsRadio.
"It’s nuts around here," another customer said. "No, but it’s good, but the turkey looks great and it’s fresh and I’ll be ready to eat it tomorrow."
Of course, not everyone shares their patience for claiming a turkey.
"My wife got it already, locked it down early," the police officer laughed. "I don’t want to wait in the lines."
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.