Oregon Public Broadcasting

If there’s Tofurky on your table Thanksgiving Day, you are part of a growing holiday trend. As the Oregon turkey industry falters, the local soy-based alternative continues to reach record sales.
Becca Bartleson reports.

For many people, Thanksgiving turkey is not the only longstanding holiday tradition. Tofurky, the first turkey substitute, is also becoming a mainstay for the dinner table.

Its sales reflect that. And it’s good news for an Oregon company. Last year, Turtle Island Foods sold 37 percent more Tofurky roasts than in previous years.

Seth Tibbot is the founder of the company. He says the increase has more to do with changes in diet than a marketing strategy.

Tibbot: "People are happy to have something that is easy to prepare and that can cook right alongside the turkey and is served alongside the turkey. Now everybody’s got something to eat. It’s kind of a peacemaker product I guess."

Tibbot says even in this economic downturn he expects to sell more Tofurkys than the last holiday season. Turtle Island Foods is located in Hood River.  The roast was invented in 1995.