It’s that time of year again. Across the country, farmers and supermarkets have geared up for the chaos of purchasing a Thanksgiving turkey.

Native to North America, the wild turkey was a staple of the traditional Native American diet. Today the wild turkey is usually replaced by the white turkey, a cheaper, more convenient alternative that’s regulated by the FDA.

In 2010, Americans consumed 736 pounds of White Turkey on Thanksgiving alone, equivalent to nearly $875 million, according to LiveScience. Aggressive marketing by turkey companies has likely contributed to a recent spike in turkey sales. Turkey consumption in the U.S. has also doubled in the past 25 years, according to the National Turkey Federation.

There are countless choices of where to buy a turkey, but not many people question whether it is better to buy from an organic farm or a generic supermarket.

One of these organic farms is Maple Lawn Turkey Farm, located in Fulton, Maryland, roughly 37 minutes away from Bethesda. This farm is a local, convenient and nutritious choice for many in the area.

Long lines of customers crowd the warehouse to purchase a turkey, hen, or turkey breast at the family-operated venue. While some reserve their picks ahead of time, upfront sales are available as well. And when they’ve finished, customers are free to visit the livestock living on the farm.

Seeing nearly a thousand people a day as the holiday approaches, workers at Maple Lawn strive to bring the freshest, most wholesome products to the dinner tables of their customers, said BJ Radhe, a member of the farm-owning family.

All animals on the farm are cared for on premises and fed nutritious, wholesome meals, naturally high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol.

Many of the farm’s customers are long-time patrons, who have made Maple Lawn Farm a family tradition for years.

“We’ve come every year for ten years,” local high school student and customer Clare Spain said. “We live around here, so we love to support the local farms.”

But does purchasing a turkey from the farm they’re raised at ensure that they are highest quality product? It does, Radhe said.

“Coming to the family-owned farm, you can see where the turkey is raised and processed, which means that you know for sure what you’re giving your family healthy” he said.

Maple Lawn also sells its turkeys in supermarkets such as MOM’s, Whole Foods, and David’s Natural Market.

Though many of you probably didn’t buy your turkey from a family-owned farm, places like Maple Lawn could offer a local, healthy choice for next year.

Maple Lawn Turkey Farm is open through Holidays in December and New Years.