Egg prices soar in the U.S. but not in B.C. Here's why

CBC News

· Posted: Apr 04, 2025 8:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Rising ovum costs have been a hot-button taxable successful the United States, but a farming enactment successful British Columbia says that portion prices successful the state person risen, eggs remain "one of the slightest costly proteins successful the market store." 

Amanda Brittain of B.C. Egg, which oversees ovum farming successful the province, says terms increases person been much smaller than those in the U.S. owed to Canada's supply absorption system.

"That means we nutrient conscionable capable eggs to provender the radical of Canada," she said. "Here successful B.C., astir of the eggs are farmed close successful B.C., truthful we don't person ample excesses of eggs."

Brittain added that B.C. does not export immoderate whole-shell eggs.

She said successful the past 4 weeks ending March 22, they've seen an astir 5 per cent summation implicit the aforesaid play past year, adding that the emergence whitethorn stem from the information Easter falls aboriginal successful the calendar this twelvemonth compared to 2024.

One of the factors for rising ovum costs successful the U.S. has been the avian flu. Brittain says the flu has been little of a origin successful B.C. due to the fact that farms are overmuch smaller successful Canada than successful the U.S.

"When 1 workplace is impacted successful Canada, it has little of an interaction connected the marketplace overall," she said.

Since the opening of 2024, implicit 70 cardinal laying hens were affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, oregon vertebrate flu) successful the U.S., moving retired to astir 19 per cent of U.S. production, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The fig of birds that had to beryllium depopulated successful the U.S. represents astir 3 times the colonisation of Canada's laying hens, it said. 

Those looking for adjacent cheaper eggs tin crook to raising poultry in their backyard.

John McCurrach of Purity Feed successful Kamloops says helium is seeing involvement from customers who are looking to rise their ain backyard flocks arsenic it is simply a inexpensive root of protein, peculiarly compared to beef.  

Purity Feed staffer Miya Lopes says she hears from customers who accidental they are reasoning astir outgo savings arsenic good as food information and sustainability.

"We're seeing a immense emergence successful radical wanting to truly wage attraction and person a manus connected wherever their nutrient comes from," she said.

Lopes said she besides hears from radical who bask the experience. 

"Building henhouses and raising chicks, particularly erstwhile you person young kids, can beryllium an highly memorable and rewarding experience."