National

Local Eggs May Be Answer to Price Hike

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The price of eggs has gone up in grocery stores, and now thanks to escalating bird flu cases and shipping costs, eggs are joining the list of expensive items.

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2023

Marlena Leonard

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The price of eggs has gone up in grocery stores, and now thanks to escalating bird flu cases and shipping costs, eggs are joining the list of expensive items.

The Bahamas isn’t the only place experiencing the spike in egg prices.

The American Bureau of Labor Statistics says egg prices in the United States have gone up 138 percent in December 2022, compared to the year before.

Naturally, as we import from the U.S., the prices rise even higher when they hit our shelves.

Local grocers have explained the cause for the increase as being connected to a shortage caused by the largest avian flu outbreak in U.S. history, which according to the United States Department of Agriculture, has caused the death of 58 million chickens and turkeys since early 2022.

Even with the explanation, some consumers argue that they simply can’t afford it. But it’s not all bad – the hesitancy at the grocery store has brought local farmers and local programs into the spotlight.

Tiffany Dennison, owner of Local Organics Limited in Grand Bahama has her own farm and flock of chickens.

In the capital, multiple schools are publicizing their egg programs, also offering eggs by the dozen for $6.

Government High School’s program has been so successful, that when we tried to reach out last week, they had already sold out.