Where to get a goose in New Jersey?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Ever since reading the "Blue Carbuncle" Sherlock Holmes story, I've been thinking of cooking a goose for Christmas.

But where can one get a bird in NJ? It almost seems easier to shoot a wild goose around here, than to find a farm-raised one in a supermarket -- or even in a specialty poultry store. Though I would prefer a freshly-slaughtered one, a frozen is acceptable at this point. Any suggestions? Thanks!

(A gander would do just as well, yes.)

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doofus
Original Author

9 years ago

Yes, I ended up buying one from a live poultry store in Wyckoff, NJ. At $8/lb for the freshly-killed one, it was a much better deal than the frozen bird from d'Artagnian sold elsewhere.

Still, it is outrageously expensive -- costing about as much as filet mignon -- and, curiosity satisfied, I will not do that again... Unless, maybe, some new President eliminates enough of the federal regulations for the price of a "dressed" bird to come closer to that of a live one ($30).

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Comments (14)

sushipup1
9 years ago
We're in the Philly area, and I can think of a couple of local butchers that will take an order. So instead of looking in the freezer case, ask. May take a couple of days to get it, but it's a special order. Your area must be similar.
doofus
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ok, I found a farm in South Jersey, that'd be happy to sell a live goose for $30 (free-range). But they can not slaughter and "dress" the bird -- because USDA makes it too expensive for small farmers to comply with all of the regulations. Licensed butcher-shops sell freshly-killed geese for about $8/lb (if you can find one) and some ShopRite supermarkets (though none near us) offer the not-so-freshly killed ones for $6/lb.

Yes, a goose weighting 10-14 pounds goes from $30 of the actual cost of the bird, to $80-96 once the costs of regulations kick in...

Considering, one can buy a turkey or chicken for only $1/lb, that's way too expensive... Maybe, later, when I win a lottery... Or, maybe, I need to learn, how to process live poultry for myself -- and save 60% each time...
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cloudy_christine
9 years ago
I have a suggestion. There's a place in New Jersey that sells heritage turkeys. (Sorry, I don't remember the name.) Search the web for that place. Call and ask them if they know who will sell a goose. I think you're up against it with time, though, because it probably must be ordered. If you get to Thursday without finding one, call the poultry dealers at the Reading Terminal Market in Philly, if you're in south Jersey. Maybe you can order one for New Year's Day.

Years ago, me to my uncle: I made a goose for Christmas. Him: Bet you won't do it again.
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
9 years ago
Fairway could probably get one for you. My turkey from them was D'Artagnan. Ordering directly was much more. Fairway must have a big order with them so keeps the price down. D'Artagnan has all the wild fowl. And goose. Very expensive either way. You will end up with lots of flavor from the fat and very delicious rich meat...but not much of it.

I order ducks and necks and paws from PekinParadise every year. When i order ducks i order other things as well like a 1/2 dozen breast, etc. The necks and paws are super for stocks.

I see frozen duck and goose in many NY metro area groceries, especially the Italian owned. Years ago a group of us had duck, goose, and a wild turkey a friend hunted...good thing we also smoked a decent size normal turkey as all the other game birds were thin pickins' in the meat dept.
anoriginal
9 years ago
Doofus... assuming you were being sarcastic about shooting a wild goose?!? They have really become pest animals... pooping about a pound of poop per goose per day... that's a tongue twister right up there with Peter Piper, huh! You CAN'T shoot them... I don't think there's a "season" for them, but might be wrong.

A little OT, but saw a huge flock of snow geese coming in for a landing in a farm field here in NJ late yesterday afternoon. WOW!
lindac92
9 years ago
Snow geese are lovely...it's the Canada geese that are so pesty.
So you can't shoot one....can you wring it's neck?
Some day somneone will get wise and kill 2 birds ( tee hee!) with one stone and open a season for urban geese.
diane_nj 6b/7a
9 years ago
Try Wegmans or Whole Foods. Call your local butcher, mine are Citarella's and Monmouth Meats, both in Red Bank. Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff.
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
9 years ago
Not sure what you ended up with but Fairway has farm raised goose. D'Artagnan like i thought. Saw it yesterday. Next to the duck and turkey.
anoriginal
9 years ago
Doofus, picturing typical, suburban, soccer mom, in her SUV, picking up a LIVE goose cuz it's "trending"! And then suburban Dad in his J Crew or LLBean going out to buy some specialty gadget to kill the thing!
sushipup1
9 years ago
Was that in a Williams-Sonoma catalog, the gadget to kill the goose. With a instructional DVD? (-:
anoriginal
9 years ago
Sushipup1... yes, it was! Do you have one?
colleenoz
9 years ago
We killed a goose one year :-0

Step dad expressed a desire for a Christmas goose and we were new in town here. When I saw a note on the community noticeboard advertising geese for Christmas I called and ordered one. On delivery I was handed a wriggling feed sack! DH and I cut its head off quickly with a sharp machete (never did totally get the bloodstains out of the fence ;-) ) and then after we let it hang overnight where 2 yo DD wouldn't find it I took it to a friend who knew (from her farm girl youth) how to draw and pluck a goose. Then I took it up to Mom and step dad's. Didn't actually get to eat any as we always spent Christmas at home due to DH's job.
sushipup1
9 years ago
Just saw young goose at Fresh Market in Chestnut Hill, $6.99 a pound.

To the OP, did you ever find a goose?

Where to get a goose in New Jersey?

doofus
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sushipup1

doofus
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Where to get a goose in New Jersey?

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