Norbest LLC is a Utah-based company producing and selling turkeys and turkey products. The company was acquired by Pitman Family Farms in 2018. History Norbest began in the early 1920s as a producer-owned marketing cooperative called Utah Poultry. In 1930, Utah Poultry, along with other related businesses from Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Nevada, combined to form the first regional turkey marketing co-op in the United States. Its headquarters were established in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 9, 1930. The new cooperative was known as the Northwestern Turkey Growers Association. The objectives of the new association were to "produce and pack a higher grade of birds, to establish a known quality…to eliminate as much speculation as possible...and pack a product, using federal grades, of uniform standard quality that will command both respect and the confidence of buyers." In its first year of operations, the co-op had revenues of $1 million on 3.5 million pounds of product; 125 million pounds are produced annually by Norbest today. The Northwestern Turkey Growers Association was among the first to adopt federal grading standards. Throughout its second year of operation, Northwestern received a "Number One" grade, which proved to be a significant marketing advantage. Ever since, the co-op has adhered to the highest government and industry standards of quality. Today, all Norbest-branded whole birds are USDA Grade A — the highest grade possible. A familiar trademark was needed to help consumers recognize the new co-op's products. Someone suggested "Norwest", short for Northwestern Turkey Growers Association. This was soon changed to "Norbest". The new brand proved so popular that after a few years, the cooperative changed its name to "Norbest Turkey Growers Association", and later to Norbest, Inc. Despite the Great Depression, Norbest stepped up promotional efforts. In 1936, Norbest hit a publicity jackpot with the presentation of a large turkey to President Franklin D. Roosevelt just before Thanksgiving. This holiday tradition continues today through annual presentations by the National Turkey Federation. During World War II, turkey became a mainstay of U.S. troops serving both at home and abroad. Norbest earned the Armed Forces Meritorious Services Award for Outstanding Performance in supplying the Quartermaster Corps. After the war, domestic demand for turkey lagged behind the production capacity built to cover wartime needs. Norbest researchers set about to improve the appeal of turkey as an everyday menu item. Norbest became an industry leader in