Egg Prices in Maine Will Start Cracking Wallets

If eggs are a regular part of your grocery list, which I am sure they are, you may expect to spend more this holiday season. So many dishes include eggs, and they are pretty hard to avoid, especially during your Thanksgiving meal plans.

According to WMTW, over the past two years, prices have risen at a pretty steady basis, which has to do with a combination of more demand for the food and avian flu outbreaks.

So we may see eggs as one of the priciest items on the shelves.

Let’s crack it down. Eggs traditionally do go up during the holidays due to baking and parties, so having a small increase is normal. However, in October, prices were up 30.4% compared to last year, as per the report.

The big surge in price is due to the nasty avian flu. This flu has killed 108 million birds since 2022, including 75 million egg-laying hens, according American Farm Bureau Federation.

Recent outbreaks in Oregon, Utah, and Washington led to a projected loss of 60 million eggs, further tightening supply.

Wholesale egg prices have also gone up, hitting $4.23 per dozen. That to me, is absolutely insane because eggs used to cost $2.43, just last year!

According to Hannaford, their eggs right now are $5.69!

Grocery stores have to face tough decisions about bringing this cost to consumers. Many of our favorite spots are trying to avoid crossing the $5 threshold for a dozen, according to the article.

The price difference between regular and organic eggs has shrunk too. That means, more people have been buying organic and honestly, I don't taste the difference. But with that, there is added demand and that causes shortages.

Egg-based products like pasta and mayonnaise might also get more expensive. To save money, try buying from local Maine farms or shopping early to avoid holiday price increases.

So make sure you stay up to date on prices and bring a little extra money for the eggs!