Bird flu outbreak causing egg prices to rise sharply

Over the last month, the price of a dozen eggs has risen sky high, and the Midwestern bird flu just might be the culprit.

The High Desert isn’t exempt when it comes to the rising price of eggs. Whether it’s bakeries, grocery stores or everything in between, many Central Oregonians are feeling the effects of the bird flu epidemic.

“For the last four weeks in a row, we’ve had a price increase,” Joe Anzaldo, assistant manager at Newport Avenue Market, said Tuesday. “Forty cents, 60 cents, another 60 cents — basically it’s doubled the price, so about $1.50 more on top of what the price was.”

Since the price rise, Newport Avenue Market has been more careful with the quantity of eggs they buy, but many customers haven’t begun to turn away from of the staples of the American breakfast.

“I don’t think that I’ve noticed the difference in the price of eggs,” one customer said.

“I bought a bunch of eggs before the prices went up,” another said.

But one man said, “I guarantee it will affect a lot of people, there’s no question about it.”

And another added, “I think that if they got past a certain point, I would just go and get some chickens.”

With the price of eggs skyrocketing by the week, Newport Market has offered to let customers buy a single egg for 40 cents.

But it’s not just the groceries that are feeling the effects of the bird flu. Linda Hickman, the co-owner of The Cake Lady Shoppe in northeast Bend ,said 15 dozen eggs used to cost $18. By Tuesday, it cost $42 for the same number.

“It’s like gas,” Hickman said. “Sometimes it’s really awesome, and other times you wonder what in the world are you going to do, and you just adjust.”

Hickman said they use 45 to 70 dozen eggs per week, and will continue to buy eggs at that rate to maintain their product.

“I would imagine it would be nine months to a year, whether it’s going to be an issue with the eggs,” Hickman said.

It’s not just regular eggs that have seen the price increase. The wholesale price of eggs sold in liquid form has more than doubled, from 63 cents per dozen equivalent to more than $1.50.