The nationwide egg shortage is causing widespread price increases, but in New York City, an unusual trend has emerged: organic and cage-free eggs are now cheaper than conventional eggs in some stores. This bizarre situation is attributed to expiring distribution contracts with organic farms, which have also been impacted by the avian flu.
The nationwide egg shortage that has caused sticker shock for millions of shoppers at grocery stores is even more unusual in New York City, where organic, cage-free cartons, typically more expensive, now cost less than a regular dozen in some stores. At the Morton Williams grocery chain, a dozen white, regular eggs from an in-store brand were selling for $9.99 this week, according to the New York Post.
Meanwhile, a carton of Land O'Lakes brown eggs, produced 'without hormones, steroids or antibiotics,' cost just $5.59. The chain's Midtown location had other organic and cage-free varieties selling for under $10, including $5.69 for a dozen of Eggland’s Best 'vegetarian-fed hens' eggs.One reason for this strange pricing is that organic, free-range egg farms, which have also been hit by the avian flu, have been honoring lower-priced distribution contracts, according to Joe Viscomi, assistant director of operations for Morton Williams. Many of those contracts are expected to expire in the coming weeks, meaning prices could soon skyrocket past $10 for a dozen, he said. 'The disparity of the cost of organic brown and cage-free eggs versus conventional eggs is closing fast,' Viscomi said. The outbreak has led to the slaughter of millions of hens in an effort to curb the spread, resulting in higher egg prices. 'I would not bet on a May recovery' as some experts have predicted, Matt Sutton-Vermeulen, principal in the agriculture and food practice at consulting firm Kearney told the newspaper. Throughout New York, many bodegas have raised prices on eggs. Some NYC shoppers are looking for a deal. The Bryant Park Whole Foods in Midtown is selling a dozen premium eggs for $4.69 this week, the Post reported. Some businesses are taking other steps to offset the price increases. The Waffle House, a Southern breakfast food chain, began a temporary 50-cent-per-egg surcharge to all of its menus Monday. The company blamed the ongoing egg shortage caused by bird flu, saying, 'consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.' It plans to monitor egg prices and 'will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow.
EGG PRICES EGG SHORTAGE AVIAN FLU ORGANIC EGGS CAGE-FREE EGGS
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