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Fowl Play!By Marvin Mayer
For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without turkey. It's a tradition. For a large and ever growing number of people, the tradition is even more specific; Thanksgiving (and Christmas) wouldn't be the same without a Greenberg turkey.
Webster defines the word "tradition" as "the handing down of information, beliefs, or customs from one generation to another." How accurately that definition fits this Tyler, Smith County, Texas business! It all began in the 1930s when the late Sam Greenberg, a dairy farmer, used a small, metal smokehouse to smoke a turkey. Needless to say, he and his entire family enjoyed their smoked turkey. Over the next few years, the number of turkeys smoked in that metal smokehouse grew as friends and family were privileged to share in the fruits of Sam's labors. Third generation head-of-the-family businessman, Sam Greenberg, recalls "At different seasons of the year, different times of the year, friends and family would ask him (Sam's grandfather) to smoke a turkey or a chicken, and he would do it."[1] While the entire process took as much as four days, each turkey spent 16 to 18 hours in the smoke house. [1] Tyler Morning Telegraph, Nov. 1, 1998
From these humble beginnings, in 1948 Sam's hobby became an actual business. "One day, some people in Dallas called and placed an order. Zelick (Sam's son) put six smoked turkeys on the train to Dallas, and a business was born."[1] The business has grown exponentially but still operates on the site of the original dairy farm. More than 200,000 turkeys will find their way to holiday dinner tables throughout the USA. [1] Texas Living,
Sometimes it was hard to determine whether the product or the consumer was the celebrity. Notable public figures enjoying the best of Tyler's delicacies included Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan[1]. Interesting, when one considers another tradition perpetuated by U. S. Presidents, that of "pardoning" a turkey at Thanksgiving time! Obviously, the smoked turkeys delivered to the Whitehouse failed to receive a presidential pardon, but instead, made the "ultimate sacrifice" on behalf of grateful first families. Al Roker, noted TV weatherman known for his love of food as well as his weather forecasts, came to know (and love!) Greenberg turkeys. The gobblers even received the Oprah spotlight in November, 2003.[2] [1] Tyler Morning Telegraph, Nov. 18, 1990 [2] Tyler Morning Telegraph, Nov. 25, 2003
So as we prepare to enjoy another Thanksgiving celebration, be mindful of the holiday tradition started 75 years ago in Tyler, Smith County, Texas; a Greenberg smoked Turkey! Happy Holidays!
Finding the perfect turkey THEN!
Finding the perfect turkey NOW!
