Egg shortage leads to odd pricing disparity with cage-free costing less than regular

The nationwide ovum shortage that has resulted successful sticker daze for millions of shoppers astatine market stores is adjacent much bizarre successful New York City, wherever organic, cage-free cartons, typically much expensive, present outgo little than a regular twelve successful immoderate stores. 

At the Morton Williams market chain, a twelve white, regular eggs from an in-store marque were going for $9.99 this week, the New York Post reported. Meanwhile, a carton of Land O'Lakes brownish eggs, which are produced "without hormones, steroids oregon antibiotics," outgo conscionable $5.59.

The chain's Midtown determination had different integrated and cage-free varieties selling for nether $10, including $5.69 for a twelve of Eggland’s Best "vegetarian-fed hens" eggs.

SHELLING OUT: EGG PRICES RISE NEARLY 37 PERCENT

A twelve eggs successful a carton.  (iStock)

One crushed for the unusual pricing is that organic, free-range ovum farms, which person besides been deed by the avian flu, person been honoring lower-priced organisation contracts, according to Joe Viscomi, adjunct manager of operations for Morton Williams.

Many of those contracts are expected to expire successful the coming weeks, meaning prices could soon skyrocket past $10 for a dozen, helium said. 

The Morton Williams supermarket located astatine the intersection betwixt LaGuardia Place and Bleecker Street successful New York City.  (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

"The disparity of the outgo of integrated brownish and cage-free eggs versus accepted eggs is closing fast," Viscomi said. 

The outbreak has resulted successful the slaughter of millions of hens successful an effort to curb the spread, resulting successful higher ovum prices. 

SWALWELL SLAMMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR QUESTIONING HOW TRUMP WILL LOWER GROCERY PRICES 

A motion lets shoppers cognize astir imaginable ovum shortages astatine a market store successful Glendale, Calif., Jan. 6, 2025. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

"I would not stake connected a May recovery" arsenic immoderate experts person predicted, Matt Sutton-Vermeulen, main successful the agriculture and nutrient signifier astatine consulting steadfast Kearney told the newspaper. 

Throughout New York, galore bodegas person raised prices connected eggs. Some NYC shoppers are looking for a deal. The Bryant Park Whole Foods successful Midtown is selling a twelve premium eggs for $4.69 this week, the Post reported.

Some businesses are taking different steps to offset the terms increases. 

The Waffle House, a Southern meal nutrient chain, began a impermanent 50-cent-per-egg surcharge to each of its menus Monday. 

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The institution blamed the ongoing ovum shortage caused by vertebrate flu, saying, "consumers and restaurants are being forced to marque hard decisions." 

It plans to show ovum prices and "will set oregon region the surcharge arsenic marketplace conditions allow."