Boston flour bakeries can’t be made much with just the ingredients that have their name. Eggs can be found in almost everything from pies and cakes to brioche breads. With the bird flu hitting egg supply and increasing prices, owner Joan Chang said he is charging an additional 50 cents for egg sandwiches and quiche.
“We stopped as much as we could,” she said.
Egg prices are skyrocketing amid a big shortage due to bird flu. The ongoing outbreak began in 2022, affecting more than 162 million birds, with many farmers holding back the flock, according to the U.S. Agriculture Bureau. The American Egg Commission’s trade group has lost more than 27 million birds so far this year alone due to the virus.
A dozen large eggs in January averaged $4.95, surpassing the last peak of January 2023, according to federal data. I feel a whiplash.
“We see fluctuations, but we can’t adjust the price every time,” Chan said. She estimated in December that she would pay $43 for a case (15 dozen, or 180 eggs). Last week, the bill swelled to $87. She said the suppliers began sending extra big eggs instead of big eggs. This is usually the most common size.
Small businesses are considering whether to raise prices to offset rising costs that threaten profit margins, leading breakfast food chains like Waffle House will have Flak from customers opposed to pay more I’ve won it. Many grocery stores have begun rationing eggs, limiting trader Joe’s purchases to one dozen per customer. Some Kroger and Aldi stores set their caps in two cartons per trip.
Farmers are struggling to not only meet the demand, but also prevent chickens from contracting the virus, said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board.
“We’re in the battle for life,” she said. “My farmers wake up every day for fear that their farm will be next. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get relief.”
Some hope may be on the horizon. The USDA grants a conditional license for vaccines for poultry, but commercial use has not yet been approved. In the meantime, many farmers have been forced to euthanize herds and thoroughly disinfect their facilities in the event of an outbreak, Mets said. She estimated it could take nine to 12 months for the affected farm to fully recover from the outbreak.
Usually there’s about one bird that lays eggs for everyone in the US, or more than 330 million birds, Mets said. That tally fell below 280 million, she said, which is why the country is experiencing shortages.
“Eggs are essential,” Mets said.
Ironically, buying organic has become a cheaper and more affordable option for us.
Minneapolis, Black Walnut Bakery, Sarabocher
Sarabocher, who runs a Black Walnut Bakery in Minneapolis, thought he was lucky amid the surge in egg prices. For months, her local organic suppliers hadn’t raised prices – until Monday evening, he warned her of an imminent 18% bump. It’s been increasing much smaller than other suppliers have instituted, Botcher said.
“It’s not about to break the bank for me, and it starts in a few weeks,” she said, “Ironically, buying organic has become a cheaper and more affordable option for us. ” he added.
Farm to People, a New York-based food delivery service, has promoted eggs raised in pastures during the outbreak, saying that over the past seven years, a $7.49 carton has increased its price by 50 cents . The company vowed to “not keep the prices of eggs down,” calling it “still another sign of a broken food system where large factory farms are short on it.”
Eggs aren’t the only staples of bakeries that are becoming more expensive. Global Cocoa Crunch has been sending out wholesale costs sharply in recent weeks, with Botcher saying chocolate prices have risen by 35% to 50% over the past year. .
If something goes up dramatically, this is not much you can do except eat the cost right away.
Darrin McMillen, Grandview Bakery, Pittsburgh
She is a “frugal” baker and is used to reducing waste and leftovers to keep costs down, she said. Still, she plans to raise the price of her egg and cheese sandwich by a dollar and some of the other pastries by a quarter.
“Your margins start to get smaller and smaller, and you have to go very far in the game and keep on increasing your prices,” Botcher said.
Darrin McMillen, who owns Grand View Bakery in Pittsburgh, said the cost of a 30-pound bucket of eggs rose 345% between January 2024 and this month.
“If this goes up dramatically, there’s not much we can do except eat the cost right away,” he said.
McMillen never raised prices for customers who had withstanded inflation, but that was a tough decision.
“You almost feel defeated,” he said.