Business & Tech

Miller Foods Thanksgiving Tent Supports Shopping Local

Miller Foods continues a community tradition with its annual Thanksgiving tent, opening Saturday.

But this year, the Avon food distributer's event adds even more local flavor to its array of turkeys and Thanksgiving meal fixings.

There is a complete local foods section with products from The Coffee Trade in Avon, Lost Acres Vineyard in Granby, the Pickin' Patch in Avon and the Avon Cider Mill brand, which the Pickin' Patch absorbed after the cider mill closed, as well as honey from Granby, J. Foster Ice Cream of Avon and Simsbury, and produce from George Hall farm in Simsbury.

Capri Frank of Miller Foods said that the idea was inspired by the Miller Marketplace farmer's market her family's business did last year "to give people an opportunity to buy local."

Another new feature this year is a celebrity chef healthy food demonstration at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Chef Todd H. Daigneault, based in New York and a Connecticut native, will do food preparation at the Avon Volunteer Fire Department headquarters beforehand and offer samples at the Miller Foods Thanksgiving tent.

Frank said that the collaboration with a fire department comes out of a longtime partnership with the department and former chief Harvey Reeser.

"It brings the whole community together," Frank said. 

Miller Foods, most known for its turkeys, has already reached 1,000 pre-orders. The business sells 8,000 on average for Thanksgiving, including wholesale at about a dozen Connecticut markets. Miller Foods turkeys are also sold at Big Y, Tulmeadow Farms in Simsbury, Lino's Market in Durham and Litchfield Locker in Litchield.

Customers can also opt to have their turkey orders carried to the "pick-up pen" at the front of the store in case they want to shop without carrying the turkey around. 

Anyone who buys a fresh Miller turkey will get $2 off food from the local section at the tent, or Cluck Bucks.

The tent is open Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23 and 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 26, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 27, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Miller Foods' address is 308 Arch Road. More information is available at 860-673-3256 or http://millerfoodsonline.com and orders can be made online. 


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