Shelling out more for eggs

As egg prices scramble to new heights, farm sets purchasing limit

By TIM FORSBERG
Posted 2/5/25

Once thought of as a cheap source of protein, eggs have become an investment. Fortunately, Johnston’s own Stamp Egg Farms is helping to crack the case on what’s ruffling feathers in the …

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Shelling out more for eggs

As egg prices scramble to new heights, farm sets purchasing limit

Posted

Once thought of as a cheap source of protein, eggs have become an investment. Fortunately, Johnston’s own Stamp Egg Farms is helping to crack the case on what’s ruffling feathers in the egg market.

According to Brijette Stamp, a family representative of the farm that keeps an eye on the store, coop and more, the rise in egg prices is a result of avian influenza. That flu has affected the egg market significantly.

“Egg prices are definitely on the rise, and that is seen everywhere. It’s not just a trend that’s happening, it’s due to avian influenza,” Stamp explained.  “So essentially what’s happening is the biological process that happens is when a bird contracts the flu, essentially all the surrounding birds are euthanized. Then it will take about six months for another chicken to grow to that same egg-laying size and lay those eggs again.”

Stamp further elaborated on the immediate consequences of an egg shortage, which effects egg prices instantly, followed by price increases on food items with egg as an ingredient.

“So that starts with an egg shortage, and since eggs are an essential item, that means that on all shelves that price is immediately going to skyrocket,” she said.

Despite these challenges, Stamp Farms has maintained its biosecurity efforts to protect their flock. Visitors are not allowed into the coop, and strict guidelines to protect birds’ health are in effect.

“Although our birds are completely safe and we’re totally contained and we practice very heavy biosecurity, the market prices and the competition are still what drives us to set our prices the same way,” Stamp stated.

The farm has also begun to implement a limit on egg purchases due to increased demand, a historic occasion for a farm that’s been open since 1937.

“This is the first time in all of my years that my dad has ever set a maximum on how many eggs that you can buy. We have a limit of three-dozen eggs for purchase in person, then we have an online ordering where it’s a four-dozen limit,” she said, adding that customers seem to be treating eggs like gold. “He said that people are hoarding eggs.”

Brijette also shared that the farm has witnessed an increasing trend of people attempting to buy large quantities, with some customers requesting as many as 15 dozen eggs at a time. In addition to retail sales, Stamp Farms serves a large wholesale market, including breakfast restaurants.

“We do have a very large wholesale business, so most of the time when a customer is, say, a breakfast restaurant, we have to know if they’re getting boxed eggs or loose eggs, there’s really big difference and a price difference too. Loose eggs mostly go to restaurants, and all our boxed eggs go to retail customers,” she explained.

Despite the market challenges, Stamp Farms’ 3,000 Rhode Island Reds remain healthy, with no signs of avian influenza among their flock. Their farms sees that their free-roaming chickens live happily in the same spacious, cage-free indoor coop, enjoying a vegetarian diet free from hormones and steroids.

Every egg is picked, packed, and delivered fresh—often within a day of being laid—so they stay fresher longer. In some cases, if stored correctly, eggs can last up to two months or longer.

Stamp also wanted to reassure customers about the future of egg supplies.

“I would say that there’s no need to hoard eggs. There’s not going to be a day when we’re all just going to run out. I think people are fearing that all the chickens are just going to die, and the news is making it seem so dramatic,” she said. “You should really get only as much as your family needs and that would also help with that skyrocketing price. Because the more people that are hoarding them, the higher the price is going to rise.”

Stamp emphasized the safety of their contained birds, and wanted it known that their farm is taking the avian flu as seriously as they can.

“Readers should definitely know that contained birds are probably the safest of them all,” she said. “We’re free range, but we’re indoors, we’re contained.”

As the price of eggs continues to rise, with prices starting at the farm starting at $7.25 for a dozen large brown eggs, Stamp Farms encourages consumers to buy responsibly and avoid panic buying to help stabilize the market.

For more information about Stamp Farms and their store hours, visit www.stampeggfarms.com.

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