Diestel Family Ranch, the First Regenified™ Certified Turkey Brand, Sees Regenerative Demand Rise Ahead of Thanksgiving

From a regenerative pasture-raised bird to a fully cooked turkey that only needs reheating, the fourth-generation family farm has a Thanksgiving turkey for every size gathering

SONORA, Calif., Nov. 10, 2026 — Regenerative turkey is earning its place at the Thanksgiving table at Diestel Family Ranch, run by brother-and-sister duo Heidi and Jason Diestel. The ranch is seeing year-over-year growth in demand for its Thanksgiving turkeys, and most notably for its regenerative birds, which were first introduced just two years ago.

Raising a regenerative turkey takes work most customers never see, starting with the feed: part of what the birds eat is Certified Regenified™ corn grown by U.S. farmers. In 2024, Diestel earned Regenified™ certification. Its regenerative whole turkey sales have doubled in demand and show no signs of slowing down. Nutrient density testing by scientists at Utah State University's Center for Human Nutrition Studies found Diestel's regenerative turkeys had more flavor and higher nutrition in every bite, including 2-3x more antioxidants, higher levels of B vitamins (B2, B7 and B12) and vitamin A, and more omega-3 fatty acids with an improved omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.*

The Diestel family has raised turkeys in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Sonora, Calif., since 1949, guided by a formula Heidi calls Breed, Feed & Time: the right breed for the size of bird, a vegetarian corn and soy feed milled fresh daily and enough time for each turkey to grow slowly and develop its flavor and texture.

"The Diestel Difference starts with how we raise our birds. We don't rush them, and every decision we make on the farm shows up in the flavor," said Heidi Diestel. "No one came to us asking for regenerative turkey, but the future of farming is very important to us, so we built the program to continue to optimize how our birds are raised and to produce a high-quality product that we know is nutritionally robust."

Heidi and Jason know there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Thanksgiving. Some hosts want a centerpiece organic heirloom bird. For others, a cook-in-bag roast for a smaller gathering or even a turkey that arrives fully cooked, leaving more time for company. That's why the family has thoughtfully expanded what they raise and prepare, offering a range of birds and product options in an industry often built around uniformity.

A turkey for every table

• Regenerative Pasture Raised Whole Turkey for the host who wants to know more about their food. Raised with regenerative farming practices, this bird reflects the family's drive to better understand the connection between farming and nutrition.

• Organic American Heirloom Whole Turkey: for the cook who already has the menu bookmarked. This certified organic turkey comes from older bronze- and black-feathered breeds with a richer, more complex flavor. It gives the cook who looks forward to Thanksgiving all year a distinctive bird to build dinner around.

• Holiday Cook-in-Bag Turkey Breast Roast, for the "yes, we can host" text you just sent. Lightly brined and seasoned with chili peppers, smoked paprika, sage and rosemary, this boneless breast roast cooks right in its bag in about 90 minutes once thawed, or about three hours straight from the freezer. Serving six to eight, it makes a smaller Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving easier to pull together.

• Fully Cooked Oven Roasted and Smoked Whole Turkeys: for the host with a full house and a full calendar. These birds arrive fully cooked, ready to reheat according to package instructions. The smoked turkeys are naturally smoked over real hickory wood. Both leave the host with one major task already handled.

Diestel turkeys can be ordered online at DiestelTurkey.com and found at grocery stores across the country, including Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market. Questions on roasting day? The Diestel turkey hotline, 888-4-GOBBLE (888-446-2253), is open and staffed by real people at the ranch, including Heidi herself.

About Diestel Family Ranch
The Diestel Family Ranch is one of the few, small, family-owned and operated ranches left in the nation. Run by a team of passionate and forward-thinking, fourth-generation turkey farmers, the family's high standards have remained unchanged since the ranch's founding in 1949. Due to careful farming practices and an emphasis on quality craftsmanship, a.k.a. the Diestel Difference, Diestel's products are always juicy, tender, and deliver handcrafted artisan flavors. Producing both holiday turkey and year-round products, the Diestel Family Ranch exists for the health and happiness of future generations. For more information visit DiestelTurkey.com or visit @diestelfamilyranch on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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*Compared with commodity turkey, based on analysis by Utah State University's Center for Human Nutrition Studies. Analysis conducted on behalf of Diestel Family Ranch. Findings describe the samples analyzed; nutrient levels can vary. Higher measured nutrient levels do not establish specific health outcomes.

SOURCE Diestel Family Ranch