SCRAMBLE ON FOR AFFORDABLE EGGS
Local farms, small backyard businesses have influx of customers looking for produce
Madison Bergamo sells a flat of eggs out of a drive-thru window at Billy's Egg Farm in Chino on Jan. 20. The price of eggs has increased over the last year due to an avian flu outbreak that has affected chicken farms nationwide.
Spooked by the recent spike in egg prices, Dan Kamps had no problem spending nearly an hour waiting for two dozen at Billy's Egg Farm in Chino.
He was among the first batch of customers sitting in their idling cars at 8 a.m. on a chilly January morning. Being there early is important as eggs — which start at $5 a dozen at Billy's — run out by noon most days, Kamps said.
The lengths people are willing to go for affordable eggs is a reflection of soaring prices nationwide — with a dozen large eggs retailing for $5.62 on Feb. 1, up from $4.83 at the beginning of December, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows.
Egg farms are reporting an influx of customers, but some are looking into quirkier solutions, such as their neighbors' backyards, to purchase eggs at a time when finding them at local grocery stores is not guaranteed.
Billy's Egg Farm owner Billy Mouw says he's been selling 25,000 eggs a day lately at his family farm, which houses about 30,000 chickens. With his daughters' help, he's able to shell out eggs a dozen at a time to cars that stretch down the residential road surrounding the business.
The availability and price of eggs at the farm make it worth the wait for Kamps, who has a family of five at home.
“You go anywhere else right now and its upwards of $7 for a dozen eggs; that hurts my wallet,” the Chino resident said as the line of cars began to move.
“It's saving money for my
family, but it’s also supporting the small business. I’d rather spend the money here than at Walmart, and honestly, it’s more expensive at Walmart right now.”
Customers shared similar sentiments down the road at another egg farm, Maust’s California Poultry, which reports it’s also seen a huge influx in demand.
“I’m definitely cutting back, I can barely make omelets for my family anymore,” said Dee Forbes, who was first in line at Maust’s. “I can’t find eggs at the groceries some days, so I come here. Yes, I have to wait, but it’s cheaper and local.”
While egg prices have leveled a bit, it’s still a drastic jump from an average of $2.89 this time last year.
It has left people shuffling between grocery stores across Southern California only to find shelves almost completely empty or with sticker shock when the only ones available are pricier.
All of this has led to some grocery stores rationing egg supplies, limiting customers to one or two cartons apiece. And as eggs are a major ingredient in products, other food items such as baked goods and mayonnaise, also have seen a price hike.
The drastic change in the egg landscape matters for families like Forbes, who say rising food costs the past three years have changed her grocery shopping habits.
“I’m always looking for ways to spend less at the market but with egg prices now, it just means more money on food,” Forbes said as she put her young daughter in the backseat of her car. “Everything is increasing right now in value, but I did not expect eggs to be one of them. But what can you do?”