As Egg Prices Peaked, 280,000 Vanished Off A Freight Truck—How?
Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
I'm dedicating the newsletter this week to one of the best stories I've read in a long time. Check out the Washington Post investigations team's deep dive on 'The Great Egg Heist'—or what happened when 280,000 brown eggs from America's top producer Cal-Maine were stolen off a freight truck. A ransom note followed.
I won't spoil this twisting tale for you, but I'll point out that the story also explains how Cal-Maine became a target while profiting from the sudden spike in the price of eggs that turned the refrigerator staple into one of the hottest luxury items in grocery stores nationwide. In the days leading up to the theft, the U.S. Department of Justice even began investigating Cal-Maine on farmers' allegations of price-gouging. As the company blamed price hikes on the impact of avian flu outbreaks decreasing overall supply, the Washington Post points out that in 2022, Cal-Maine didn't lose a single bird to avian flu and still reported quarterly profits that December that were 169 times higher than the year prior.
I'm still waiting for Cal-Maine to return my many requests for an interview with the chairman and son-in-law of the company's founder, or the founder's four daughters. They had controlled the publicly traded company through a majority stake for years, but sold a significant amount of shares in April. Their entire share sale plan is estimated to have a value of about $500 million.
I hope you are enjoying all summer has to offer, and, if like millions of Americans, you're in the throes of a heatwave, stay cool and hydrate!
— Chloe Sorvino
This is Forbes' Fresh Take newsletter , which every Wednesday brings you the latest on the big ideas changing the future of food. Want to get it in your inbox every week? Sign up here .
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
From the Washington Post : 280,000 eggs disappeared from America's top producer. Then came a ransom note. The Feed
A gate marks a closed road on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management outside of Moab, Utah. James Roh for The Washington Post via Getty Images
Public Land Grab: After widespread bipartisan opposition to the federal government selling some 250 million acres of public land in the West to raise funds as part of the Trump Administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it's looking like the conservationists could win. On Monday, the Senate's Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled out the sales, according to Politico's E&E News. But the fight is not over: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) has vowed to alter his plan.
Cofounder Jennifer Garner attends a Once Upon A Farm launch event in October 2023.for Once Upon A Farm
IPO Watch: Once Upon A Farm, the organic baby food brand cofounded by Jennifer Garner and former Annie's CEO John Foraker, has confidentially filed to go public, according to a report in Reuters. The Goldman Sachs- and JPMorgan-backed transaction could value the business at around $1 billion and is a good sign for markets that have faced uncertainty and a tepid supply of new listings.
Chickens stand in a henhouse at Sunrise Farms in February 2025 in Petaluma, California.Preventing The Next Pandemic: I also urge you to read a call to action on avian flu and the risks it poses to human health from Danielle Nierenberg, cofounder of Food Tank and a Forbes contributor. 'The time to prevent and contain this virus is right now,' writes Nierenberg. 'There's a very real possibility that avian flu could pose a greater threat in the future, and we can't be caught unprepared. The correct course of action involves vaccination, investments in public health, and global collaboration—all of which appear to be under threat given recent U.S. policy developments.' Ultimately, she declares: 'As Covid-19 made abundantly clear, viruses don't stop at national borders. Keeping the public healthy and preparing for pandemic risks simply must be more important than politicking. And when we're heading in the wrong direction, there is a moral obligation to sound the alarm—and to illuminate a better path forward.' Field Notes
Chloe Sorvino
I've been spending some time on Cape Cod, which means I had to stop at The Seafood Shanty in Bournedale, Massachusetts right before the bridge. I love this 30-year-plus institution's fried scallops and homemade onion rings, and, I have to say, I personally think the lobster roll might be the best—and the best value—of anywhere around the Cape. Pro tip: This old-school seafood shack piles on the lobster so high that you can get two lobster rolls out of their $32.95 meal (with fries!), just order yourself an extra roll.
Thanks for reading the 148th edition of Forbes Fresh Take! Let me know what you think. Subscribe to Forbes Fresh Take here .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
17 minutes ago
- CBS News
Miami man charged in fuel theft scheme using modified vehicle, MDSO says
A Miami man faces multiple charges in an elaborate fuel theft scheme involving a modified vehicle, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. Orlando Pardo Ortega, 56, used a truck retrofitted with high-capacity fuel bladders to steal hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel from gas stations, which was then resold to commercial trucking operations at below-market rates, according to the arrest report. Organized fuel theft operation MDSO said that on April 25, a detective observed Ortega driving a 2017 white Ram 5500 with an obvious fuel bladder in the truck bed at a Wawa gas station located in the 3300 block of NW 87th Ave. in Doral. The vehicle was seen making two contactless payments via cell phone to pump 110.75 gallons of diesel fuel, exceeding the truck's standard 52-gallon tank capacity. The detective followed Ortega to another Wawa in the 7800 block of West Flagler Street, where he conducted two additional transactions totaling $340.14 for diesel fuel, bringing the total to 218.08 gallons, according to the arrest report. A Wawa senior asset protection advisor confirmed that Ortega used the same credit card, linked to a Hong Kong bank, for purchases totaling $2,689 across multiple Wawa locations. Multiple failed credit card transactions On May 13, Ortega attempted 12 transactions at a RaceTrac located in the 12800 block of SW 152nd Street, all of which were declined, using six different credit cards from various U.S. financial institutions, according to the report. Ortega was taken into custody without incident on June 25 and transported to the MDSO Kendall Station, where he waived his Miranda rights and provided a statement to detectives, the report states. He faces charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, retail fuel theft with a modified vehicle and fraudulent use of a credit card for $100 or more, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
Washington Post
18 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Meet Rep. LaMonica McIver, the Democrat being prosecuted over encounter outside NJ immigration jail
NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges she assaulted officials during an oversight visit to an immigration detention center in May. It's a rare federal prosecution against a current member of Congress on charges other than corruption or fraud. Outside court, the congresswoman was defiant, saying the charges won't stop her from doing her job.
CNET
18 minutes ago
- CNET
Early July 4th Grill Deals: Sizzling Savings on Blackstone, Traeger and More
It's not the Fourth of July until that first burger hits the grill. And if you're looking to upgrade before this year's cookout, there are some incredible deals already available. Major retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon are offering some serious savings on tons of top-rated gas and charcoal grills, smokers, griddles and much, much more. To help you make the most of these initial offers, we've rounded up some of the absolute best bargains. We'll continue to update this page throughout the holiday (along with Prime Day shortly after), so be sure to check back often. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Best early July 4th grill and smoker deals Blackstone ProSeries Omnivore 22-inch griddle: $297 Get ready for your Fourth of July cookout with $50 off this outdoor BlackStone griddle. It features a two-burner 22-inch flattop griddle with 361 square inches of total cooking space -- enough for over a dozen burgers or 60 hot dogs. It's propane-fueled and produces up to 21,000 BTUs of heat. Other features include two side shelves, a paper towel holder, a protective hood and built-in tank storage. Details Save $50 $297 at Walmart Close Kamado Joe Pellet Joe: $1,000 Although they're pretty pricey, these wood-burning Kamado Joe grills are some of the best grills on the market right now, and this nearly $800 discount is a great chance to get one on your patio for less. This 18-inch model features 250 square inches of cooking space with ceramic insulation for precise temperature control. Plus, the hopper can hold about 10 pounds of wood pellets for up to 14 hours of smoking. Details Save $799 $1,000 at Kamako Joe Close Char-Broil Grill2Go X200: $144 Char-Broil's tabletop gas grill is perfect for car camping or lakeside cookouts. It's a single-burner propane model with 9,500 BTUs of power and a 200-square-inch grill grate. The grill is less than 2 feet long and weighs about 25 pounds, so it's easy to transport, and it has a durable cast aluminum firebox and lid. Details Save $106 $144 at Amazon Close Costway 3-in-1 vertical smoker: $85 Charcoal barrel smokers are perfect for getting a good, even cook on your food and adding delicious smoky flavors. Even better, these cookers take up very little room, so they're perfect for smaller patios. This Costway three-in-one smoker and grill has two grill racks, offering 400 square inches of cooking space. You can also set up the smoker to act as a regular grill or as a fire pit, so at just over $80, it's hard to pass it up. Details Save $44 $85 at Walmart Close More grill deals: Should you shop July 4th grill deals or wait until Prime Day? With Prime Day kicking off just a few days after the Fourth of July, the line between these two events will likely be pretty hazy. That being said, the Fourth of July is practically synonymous with cookouts and barbecues, so you can expect that most of the very best discounts will coincide with Independence Day. We'd recommend shopping the initial wave of deals, rather than holding out for additional bargains later in the event. Where are the best July 4th grill and smoker sales? Grills and smokers have reached the point where you won't just find them at big box stores or hardware stores. Aside from the multitude of brands making cookers now, the inclusion technology makes these items available at more retailers than ever. You'll find great savings on grills and smokers of all kinds at Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, Target, Lowe's, Amazon and much more. Several brands like Weber and Monument are offering some direct deals of their own. What else will be on sale for July 4th? You'll find nearly anything and everything getting some great discounts for the Fourth of July. From top tech like TVs and laptops to mattresses, appliances and more, you'll find plenty of ways to save money. Don't forget to pick up some helpful grilling tools during the sales for that new grill you bought as well. How we choose the best grill and smoker July 4th deals Our team of expert shoppers and deal-hunters spent years helping buyers understand which major sales and deals are legitimately good and which are more routine. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, July Fourth and countless other shopping events. We've become very good at weeding out scams and superficial deals, so you see only the best grills and smokers from retailers all over. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing a deal to show you. Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for all of the grills to make sure no manufacturers are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is. Quality reviews are important for any product, but especially for deeply discounted grills. If it breaks the first time you use it, the discount isn't really worthwhile. Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a grill deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we'll let you know upfront so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
