SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The nationwide egg shortage has been driven by Bird flu, and if you ask one local farmer, seasonal molting is part of the issue too.
The cost of a dozen large shell eggs in California costs an average of $8.90, that’s according to a recently released report by the USDA. Additionally, the volume of eggs processed last week declined sharply, down 16% to it’s lowest level since May 2020.
Local farmer Ashlie Pesic, of Da-Le Farms, says she believes combined factors are impacting supply and demand, and increasing prices.
No one feels it more than bakeries who rely on eggs to make their daily cookies, cakes and pies.
“It’s been more challenging the last month,” said Brooke Bauer, baker at Coco & Jules in Normal Heights. “In the last month it’s been harder. We thought it was because everyone was baking at home. Eggs doubled in price.”
The bakery’s routine Costco egg deliveries have been spotty lately too, so they travel to various grocery stores, including Vons and Walmart, on a regular basis now on an egg hunt.
“We would get a shipment three times a week. Now it’s been harder to get product,” Bauer continued.
The Bird flu has been reported as a factor for the shortage and some local farmers say this is also the time of year for chicken molting, which could be fueling supply and demand.
“Our chickens are molting. It’s nothing to do with the flu. It’s an 8-week period where they defeather all their old feathers and grow in new ones. While they’re doing that, they’re putting all their energy and all their hormones into that growth and they’re not able to produce as many eggs. So, we have a few, but not enough for retail,” said Pesic.
All of it hurting the bottom line for local bakeries, like Coco & Jules, but it’s not enough to take the sugar out of what they do.
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