REPORTER: IT’S REALLY A DOMINO EFFECT - IT’S COSTING FARMS LIKE THIS ONE MORE MONEY TO PRODUCE EGGS WHICH MEANS YOUR PAYING MORE AT THE STORE. OR EVEN AT THE RESTAURANT. FARMERS SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE INCREASE. >> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE PUTTING MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. REALISTICALLY AND HONESTLY NOT. YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE INCREASED COSTS. REPORTER: RON EICHNER IS THE OWNER OF EICHNER’S FARM MARKET A FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY FARM WHERE 3,000 CHICKENS LAY EGGS. AND RECENTLY HE’S HAD TO RAISE HIS EGG PRICES THREE TIMES. >> HAD TO TAKE THE PRICES UP 25% JUST IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. LARGE FIVE DOLLARS A DOZEN. REPORTER: THAT’S ABOUT A DOLLAR MORE PER DOZEN IN FOUR MONTHS. EICHNER SAYS THE FEED COST FOR HIS FARM HAS JUMPED 36% IN THE LAST YEAR, HIS ELECTRIC BILL HAS GONE UP AND HE’S ALSO SEEING A PRICE INCREASE FOR EGG CARTONS. NOW COMBINE THAT WITH LABOR COSTS AND THE LINGERING BIRD FLU OUTBREAK AND YOU’RE GOING TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR EGGS. >> I’M KEEPING ALL THE HENS BUSY AND WE ARE SELLING ALL THE BIGS. REPORTER: LOCAL RESTAURANTS ARE ALSO FEELING THE PAIN. TOTIN’S DINER USED THOUSANDS OF EGGS EACH WEEK. >> LAST WEEK WAS $84 FOR 15,000. THIS PAST WEEK IT DROPPED TO -- 15,000, THIS PAST WEEK IT DROPPED TO 77. REPORTER: EXPERTS PREDICT THE PEAK HAS PASSED - BUT BUSINESSES SAY THEY STILL NEED MORE RELIEF. >> WITH EVAN GOING OUT -- WITH EVERYTHING GOING UP AND LABOR GOING UP IT IS A BIG PINCH. WE ARE ABSORBING IT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE TO RAISE PRICES. >> HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THERE IS A LOT OF DYNAMICS CAUSING THESE INCREASES. IT DOES NOT HELP OF THE INFLATIONARY PERIOD WE ARE IN. EVERYONE IS TRYING TO MICROMANAGE. LET’S NOT BEAT UP ON THE HEN. REPORTER: EICHNER DID SAY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR EGGS HE’S BEEN GETTING MORE CALLS. PEOPLE LOOKING FOR NEW EGG SUPPLIERS. REPORTING LIVE IN WEXFORD ASHLEY ZILKA PITTSBURGH’S
Why egg prices are still soaring
From restaurants to local farms, everyone is taking a hit
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Updated: 5:38 AM CST Jan 19, 2023
The price of the morning omelet keeps rising, and shoppers can't help but notice how the price for a dozen eggs has skyrocketed.From restaurants to local farms, everyone is taking a hit. Egg prices have doubled in the past year, and sister station WTAE stopped by a farm in Wexford, Pennsylvania, to see the reasons behind it.“It looks like, wow, you are putting more money in your pocket, but realistically and honestly not, you are just trying to stay ahead of the increased cost,” the owner of Eichner’s Farm Market, Ron Eichner, said.Eichner's Farm Market is a fourth-generation family farm where 3,000 chickens lay eggs. Recently, Ron Eichner said he’s had to raise his egg prices three times.“I had to take the prices up 25% just in the last 4 months... jumbo is $5.20 a dozen, extra-large $5.10 and large $5 a dozen,” Eichner said.That is about a dollar more per dozen in four months. Eichner says the feed cost for his farm has jumped 36% in the last year. His electric bill has gone up, and he's also seeing a price increase for egg cartons.Combine that with labor costs and the lingering bird flu outbreak, and shoppers are going to pay more for their eggs.“I am keeping all the hens busy, and we are selling all of the eggs,” Eichner said.Local restaurants are also feeling the pain. Totin's Diner in Wexford uses thousands of eggs each week.“It's outrageous. Last week, it was $84 for 15 dozen, this past week, it dropped to about $77... a year ago, probably paid $18, $17 for 15 dozen, so it’s just unbelievable,” the owner of Totin’s Diner, Jim Totin, said.Experts predict the peak has passed, but businesses say they still need more relief.“It hurts the bottom line, and obviously, with everything else going up and labor going up, it's a big pinch, but we are absorbing it for right now, and hopefully, we don't have to raise prices, but it's got to end sometime,” Totin said.“Hopefully, the public understands there is a lot of dynamics that is causing these increases, and it doesn't help with the inflationary period we are in because everyone is trying to micromanage, and I think let’s not beat up on the hen, the laying hen, too much,” Eichner said.Eichner did say because of the high demand for eggs, he's been getting more calls from people who are looking for new egg suppliers.
The price of the morning omelet keeps rising, and shoppers can't help but notice how the price for a dozen eggs has skyrocketed.
From restaurants to local farms, everyone is taking a hit. and sister station WTAE stopped by a farm in Wexford, Pennsylvania, to see the reasons behind it.
“It looks like, wow, you are putting more money in your pocket, but realistically and honestly not, you are just trying to stay ahead of the increased cost,” the owner of Eichner’s Farm Market, Ron Eichner, said.
Eichner's Farm Market is a fourth-generation family farm where 3,000 chickens lay eggs. Recently, Ron Eichner said he’s had to raise his egg prices three times.
“I had to take the prices up 25% just in the last 4 months... jumbo is $5.20 a dozen, extra-large $5.10 and large $5 a dozen,” Eichner said.
That is about a dollar more per dozen in four months. Eichner says the feed cost for his farm has jumped 36% in the last year. His electric bill has gone up, and he's also seeing a price increase for egg cartons.
Combine that with labor costs and the lingering bird flu outbreak, and shoppers are going to pay more for their eggs.
“I am keeping all the hens busy, and we are selling all of the eggs,” Eichner said.
Local restaurants are also feeling the pain. Totin's Diner in Wexford uses thousands of eggs each week.
“It's outrageous. Last week, it was $84 for 15 dozen, this past week, it dropped to about $77... a year ago, probably paid $18, $17 for 15 dozen, so it’s just unbelievable,” the owner of Totin’s Diner, Jim Totin, said.
Experts predict the peak has passed, but businesses say they still need more relief.
“It hurts the bottom line, and obviously, with everything else going up and labor going up, it's a big pinch, but we are absorbing it for right now, and hopefully, we don't have to raise prices, but it's got to end sometime,” Totin said.
“Hopefully, the public understands there is a lot of dynamics that is causing these increases, and it doesn't help with the inflationary period we are in because everyone is trying to micromanage, and I think let’s not beat up on the hen, the laying hen, too much,” Eichner said.
Eichner did say because of the high demand for eggs, he's been getting more calls from people who are looking for new egg suppliers.
