Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Geese and Ducks
If you raise geese, shrewd marketing and committed outreach can result in a very nice
income, especially because geese are inexpensive and easy to raise, thriving as they do
on grass and pasture land. Cooking and eating a Christmas goose is an old tradition es-
pecially enjoyed in the past by Germans and Scandinavians; it is a shame that it has
not continued on a large scale. However, the demand for fresh-dressed ducks and geese
during the holiday season can be quite high, especially if you live in an area where nos-
talgic or historical groups enjoy celebrating in ways akin to their forefathers'. To these
groups, promotion of the old-fashioned Christmas goose is welcome. Acquaint yourself
and help them to make their traditionally themed dinners a reality.
THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT
Geese provide a wonderful source of appetizing, rich meat, and if cooked properly,
do not have to be the greasy or fatty dishes people often imagine them to be. When
we cook a goose or duck, we roast it up on a rack to keep the bird from sitting in the
grease. We also put a quartered orange or two inside the cavity of the bird to help
soak up the grease that might collect there, and impart a citrus flavor to the meat.
(See
chapter 13
, Waterfowl, for more on this delicious bird.)
The demand for ducks usually occurs during fall. We have something in our region
called “feather parties,” when hunting clubs and other organizations hold card party
fund-raisers using dressed ducks and geese as prizes.
Wild game dinners and other such events are venues where you can successfully mar-
ket your ducks. These organizations — Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the Izaak
Walton League among them — frequently want large numbers of ducks, and offer you
a great opportunity for harvesting your entire crop with minimal advertising. Just a few
phone calls on your part, and you may be able to secure an annual chunk of income.
Educating the Public
As part of your marketing strategy, expect to spend a portion of each week educating
consumers about the special circumstances of raising and processing your products.
Some areas of the country are more aware and appreciative of diverse practices and the
corresponding expenses than are others. Expect that you'll have to explain all variations
from factory farms in practice and cost, and you'll have every subject covered. Plan to
tell buyers:
