The spike in egg prices is getting a lot of attention in recent weeks.
The rise in cost isn’t just concerning for those planning a Christmas cookie exchange and lovers of deviled eggs this holiday season, but also for local businesses that rely heavily on eggs for dishes, breakfast platters and baked goods.
The average price, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for a dozen eggs in March was $1.40 per dozen. That price rose to more than $2.90 in April, and as of November was up to $3.59 per dozen.
“Our order prices (for supplies) have gone way up,” said Stacy Allen, owner of the local Jen’s Diner, located on Business 67 South of Poplar Bluff. “Breakfast used to be the cheapest meal and we try not to have to raise our prices but we have to sometimes, It is crazy how much the costs have gone up for everything really.”
Eggs aren’t the only thing that has had a noticeable increase in recent months. Lettuce, baking potatoes and orange juice have all risen drastically.
“Almost everything has gone up. We normally put everything to the side of your burger, as far as lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion, but now we’re just waiting on them to specify if they want it,” said Allen.
Carolyn Cowin of Earl’s Diner in Poplar Bluff speculated the rising costs were thanks to a recent disease outbreak, saying, ‘They had to kill a bunch of chickens, I think that is what has impacted egg prices.”
According to the USDA, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or bird flu was detected in birds in South Carolina as far back as January of this year and reportedly has continued to spread.
Other contributing factors said to be adding to the skyrocketing cost of eggs and groceries in general are, according to market data, higher electricity and gas prices and an increase in feed prices.
Laramy Montgomery, who has been raising chickens in the area since 2016, agrees, adding that raising your own chickens may not be a cost-saver either.
“I am in the hobby stage and not really paying attention to market prices, but the price of raising chickens after the work and the feed cost, I ended up losing more trying to keep my hens alive,” said the Silva resident and poultry hobbyist.
Montgomery went on to express her concern for her flock during the upcoming cold weather.
“It took five months before they were mature enough to start laying, which can be quite expensive,” she said.
She also mentioned Avian Flu as a concern for people looking to increase their flock.
“I have 26 hens now and I am hoping to increase my flock but certainly as it gets bigger — I already go through 50 pounds of feed very quickly, so I would say if you are doing it solely to save money, it’s not exactly the best idea. It’s a lot of time investment and hard work,” she said.
It can be losing proposition if you aren’t prepared for the work, Montgomery said.
“It can be very time consuming. Now if you only have a couple or three (hens) you could probably do OK. The prices are definitely not getting any better,” she said.
Montgomery suggests looking online to find people in the area who raise hens.
“I know I have read studies that state the nutritional value of fresh farm eggs is better, and I know my chickens get to go out in the yard and peck and scratch,” she said.
Many people are not familiar with how the market sets the price of eggs and many other foods we regularly consume.
According to the USDA these prices are set by Urner Barry, a periodical publication founded in 1858 by a successful printer in New York City by the name of Benjamin Urner. He, along with Frank Barry, who was responsible during the same time period for starting the New York Daily Market Report, joined forces to assemble the price publication
Because of this, Urner Barry quickly became the standard for industry pricing for poultry, egg, meat, seafood and related areas of the food industry and remains so today.
Examination of this scale has led to criticism of the meatpacking industries in general since 2020, which suggests circumstances may not be entirely to blame for sticker shock at the grocery story. In a report titled “Price Gouging” published in March, the New York State Office of the Attorney General reviewed the production costs and shelf price versus corporate profits and found major gains for the meatpacking industry.
“During the pandemic, the price of meat went up sharply, constituting half of the price increases of food bought at grocery stores. Beef prices were a large part of that price spike. The price hikes cannot be explained by supply chain disruption and increased costs alone. Four major companies in the meat packing industry — Cargill, Tyson, JBS and National Beef Packing Company — account for 70% of beef sales in the United States. The meatpackers had a 120% increase in gross profits and 500% increase in net income,” it said.
According to FORBES, the meat industry is not the only industry profiting from the current economic climate. An article printed in October states pharmaceutical companies Merck and Biogen top the list along with EQT Corporation, which deals in natural gas, as well as energy companies Hess and Pioneer Natural Resources.