Latest news with #EggsHawaii
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Egg prices still high in Hawaii ahead of Easter weekend
JAMM AQUINO / FEB. 5 Hawaii egg prices remained high this month, according to a state report. Trays of eggs are seen here at Eggs Hawaii in Honolulu in February. JAMM AQUINO / FEB. 5 Hawaii egg prices remained high this month, according to a state report. Trays of eggs are seen here at Eggs Hawaii in Honolulu in February. Hawaii egg prices this month are still high, according to the latest state market analysis, while the difference between local and U.S. mainland egg prices continues to narrow. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture revealed mixed results in its latest report in the week leading up to the popular Easter holiday in April, when eggs are in high demand. The benchmark price for conventional, non-organic eggs increased slightly by 0.7 % to $9.58 a dozen compared with $9.51 in March. The price of conventional mainland eggs, meanwhile, declined slightly by 1.5 % to $9.32 a dozen compared with $9.46 the previous month. 'The price range for both local and mainland-sourced eggs narrowed, suggesting more consistent pricing across retailers, ' the report said. In December a dozen local, conventional eggs was priced at $8.87, while mainland eggs were $8.35. The price of locally produced organic eggs, meanwhile, increased 18.8 %, to $12.07 a dozen in the week leading up to the Easter holiday. The price for mainland-imported organic eggs also increased, though more modestly, by 2.6 %, to $9.74 a dozen. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'As a result, the average price differential between locally produced and U.S. imported organic eggs increased to $2.33 per dozen, up from 67 cents previously, ' the report said. Industry analysts have blamed the avian influenza outbreak for the shortage of eggs on the U.S. mainland. To date, no commercial poultry farms in Hawaii have experienced an outbreak of avian influenza. Many retailers continue to limit the number of egg cartons their customers may purchase due to the ongoing shortage. 3 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Egg prices in Honolulu continue to rise, state report says
JAMM AQUINO / FEB. 5 Waikele resident Janelle Mayeshiro, left, and Kalihi resident Angelino Cariaga carry their purchased eggs from Eggs Hawaii in Honolulu in February. JAMM AQUINO / FEB. 5 Waikele resident Janelle Mayeshiro, left, and Kalihi resident Angelino Cariaga carry their purchased eggs from Eggs Hawaii in Honolulu in February. Honolulu egg prices continued to rise in March, according to the latest market analysis report from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. HDOA said the benchmark price for a dozen large, locally produced eggs rose by 20 % to $9.51 during the first quarter of this year, while the price of a dozen U.S. mainland eggs rose by 30 % to $9.46. The average price differential between local and mainland eggs narrowed further from 66 cents to a marginal 5 cents a dozen, according to report, which noted the selection of brands available to consumers in Hawaii has become more limited due to an egg shortage on the mainland U.S. 'Hawaii still pays significantly higher prices than the rest of the U.S., which averages at $4.90 per dozen, ' department officials said Monday in a news release. 'The increase in the price of mainland eggs can be mainly attributed to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI ) which has impacted egg production across the continental U.S.' The price of organic eggs increased by just 4.2 %, considerably lower than the rise of conventional egg prices during the first quarter of 2025. In the Honolulu retail market, the price of a dozen local eggs ranged from $6.49 to $11.79, while the price of a dozen mainland U.S. eggs ranged from $6.49 to $10.99 the first quarter of this year. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. A dozen local, organic eggs ranged between about $8 to $12 while a dozen, organic, mainland U.S. eggs ranged from about $9.50 to $10. 'While the increasing price of all eggs is a concern for everyone, it is good to see that local eggs are able to be very competitive in the marketplace, ' said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture, in the release. 'Of course, the added benefit of locally produced eggs is that they are fresher and we hope that everyone will choose local when available and support our local producers.' Hawaii became the last U.S. state to detect the H5N1 virus or HPAI, in a backyard flock of birds in November. The first avian influenza outbreak was confirmed mid-November in a flock of rescued ducks and geese at Susie's Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa. That same month, avian influenza was also confirmed in a wild duck from the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu's North Shore. But HPAI has not, to date, been detected in any commercial poultry or egg production facilities in the state, HDOA said. HDOA continues to work with Hawaii's poultry industry to keep from infecting local flocks. 41 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Demand skyrocketing for local eggs
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Eggs Hawaii owner Iris Shimabukuro helped customers on Wednesday in Honolulu. 1 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Eggs Hawaii owner Iris Shimabukuro helped customers on Wednesday in Honolulu. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Customers lined up outside the store, which was offering a tray of 20 jumbo white eggs for $12.75. Purchases were limited to one tray per customer. 2 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Customers lined up outside the store, which was offering a tray of 20 jumbo white eggs for $12.75. Purchases were limited to one tray per customer. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ More and more local customers are turning to local eggs as the nationwide shortage due to bird flu has continued to decimate entire poultry flocks. Eggs Hawaii associate Nita Ongsico, right, helped customers Wednesday in Honolulu. 3 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ More and more local customers are turning to local eggs as the nationwide shortage due to bird flu has continued to decimate entire poultry flocks. Eggs Hawaii associate Nita Ongsico, right, helped customers Wednesday in Honolulu. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Eggs Hawaii associate Nita Ongsico, right, helps customers at Eggs Hawaii on Wednesday. 4 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Eggs Hawaii associate Nita Ongsico, right, helps customers at Eggs Hawaii on Wednesday. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Eggs Hawaii owner Iris Shimabukuro helped customers on Wednesday in Honolulu. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Customers lined up outside the store, which was offering a tray of 20 jumbo white eggs for $12.75. Purchases were limited to one tray per customer. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ More and more local customers are turning to local eggs as the nationwide shortage due to bird flu has continued to decimate entire poultry flocks. Eggs Hawaii associate Nita Ongsico, right, helped customers Wednesday in Honolulu. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Eggs Hawaii associate Nita Ongsico, right, helps customers at Eggs Hawaii on Wednesday. RELATED PHOTO GALLERY Demand for local eggs in Hawaii has skyrocketed as a shortage persists across the U.S. due to continual outbreaks of bird flu. On Oahu, lines have been forming at places like Island Fresh Eggs, a shop in Kalihi where customers can buy eggs straight from a local farm in Waianae at competitive prices. The shop is run by Eggs Hawaii, which also sells Ka Lei and Hawaiian Maid brand eggs at supermarkets. On Wednesday, the shop was offering a tray of 20 jumbo white eggs for $12.75. A tray of 30 'checks ' with minor damage was $10. Eggs Hawaii is limiting purchases to one tray per customer. The same is happening on Oahu's North Shore, where people line up early at what's known as the 'Farm Store, ' set up at the entrance to Villa Rose Egg Farm on Kaukonahua Road. The farm sells its Waialua Fresh brand eggs starting at 8 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, while supplies last. A tray of 30 'check eggs ' is just $7. The eggs are also sold to local distributors and major supermarkets throughout Hawaii. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'We're seeing demand skyrocket, mostly because the supply chain is so shattered from the mainland, ' said Waialua Fresh Manager Avery Barry. 'Eggs from the mainland are not coming in anymore. It puts a lot of pressure on us, being one of the few remaining in the local supply chain.' While some customers were willing to pay a higher price to buy local eggs previously, many are now flocking to these outlets in search of bargains as supply from the U.S. continent grows ever tighter. The gap in prices for local and mainland eggs is also closing, according to a recent market report from the state Department of Agriculture. Barry said a noticeable uptick in demand began in about November, and he gets numerous calls from restaurants in search of eggs. The customers that line up at the Farm Store used to come from Wahiawa and the surrounding area but now drive from as far as Hawaii Kai. Due to the increased demand, Waialua Fresh—the largest of four remaining egg farms on Oahu—is looking to add four more barns to its farm to increase its flock size and production. Currently, the farm has 10 barns and produces about 300, 000 eggs daily. 'This is definitely a good time to show people why it's so important to shop local, ' he said. 'If they can support us, we can grow and we can fill these demands, and over time get big enough to not be so reliant on the mainland.' At many local supermarkets, shelves in the egg section are often bare, and some are to two cartons each. TO DATE, no commercial poultry flocks in Hawaii have experienced outbreaks of H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza. In November, Hawaii became the last U.S. state to confirm H5N1 in birds due to an outbreak in a backyard flock of ducks and geese at Susie's Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa. Some sanctuary ducks adopted by a family in the also tested positive. That same month, a wild duck swabbed at the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in November also tested positive for H5N1 but exhibited no symptoms. Despite wastewater detections in Hilo on Hawaii island and in Lihue, Kauai, the state has reported no bird flu outbreaks on those two isles. Across the U.S., millions of commercial poultry birds have been decimated by H5N1, including those culled during outbreaks. Since January, more than 25 million birds have been affected, and outbreaks continue to occur on a regular basis. The state Department of Agriculture has urged poultry farms and backyard chicken owners to increase to protect their animals from the virus. These include minimizing traffic on premises, protecting flocks from contact with wild birds by keeping them inside, and offering workers disposable coveralls and boots that can be disinfected. Barry said Waialua Fresh, which is a free-range farm, has had strict protocols in place, even before the U.S. bird flu outbreak began in 2022. Only employees are allowed on the farm, he said, and all are required to shower upon entering and exiting. Shoes and tires are disinfected. Even truck drivers are not allowed to step out of their vehicles while on the farm. Barry said it is a worrisome situation and that any recovery would be long term, given the time it takes to repopulate a farm and grow chicks that could hatch eggs again. EGG PRICES both in Hawaii and on the mainland have increased due to constant demand amid lower supplies. Local egg prices have increased less, though, and are now closer to mainland egg prices, which have been consistently lower. The HDOA market analysis and news branch recently reported that the benchmark price for a dozen large, locally produced eggs in December rose to $8.87, a 2.7 % increase from $8.64 in December 2023. The benchmark price for a dozen large, mainland eggs during the same time was at $8.35 per dozen, a 5.2 % increase from $7.94 the previous year. 'Notably, the price gap between local and mainland eggs continued to narrow, decreasing to 6.2 % in 2024 from 8.8 % in the same reference period in 2023, ' said HDOA in a news release. 'During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the price gap was significantly higher at 25.6 %.' From 2021 to 2024, HDOA said retail egg prices in Honolulu increased 28.4 % for a carton of 12 eggs, and 34 % for a carton of 18 eggs. During that same time, however, mainland egg prices increased 51.8 % for a dozen and 78.3 % for a carton of 18 eggs. Kevin Yim, vice president of marketing for Zippy's, said the popular restaurant chain has always purchased local eggs. Zippy's has a long-standing, decades-long relationship with Eggs Hawaii, he said, and is grateful to be able to still get a consistent, local supply. 'All of our shell eggs, we buy 100 % local from Eggs Hawaii, ' Yim said. 'Our founders wanted to buy local because they believed supporting local would come back to us. It's about supporting our neighbors. When you buy local, you're supporting a sustainable system.' Thus far, Zippy's has not had to raise menu item prices for its customers in Hawaii. Zippy's has one store in Las Vegas, with a second one expected to open in March. The Las Vegas Zippy's has had to pay higher prices for eggs, he said, but so far has not passed the extra cost along to customers. Yim noted that some restaurants are now adding 'egg surcharges.' 'Honestly, we'll have to continuously monitor the situation and make sure we can still make a profit by serving eggs, ' he said. 'As of now, everything seems to be fine.'—Egg prices—Local eggs 2024 : $8.87 /dozen (up 2.7 % from 2023 )----Mainland eggs 2024 : $8.35 /dozen (up 5.2 % from 2023 )----Price gap local vs. mainland in 2024 : 6.2 %—Price gap local vs. mainland in 2023 : 8.8 %—Price gap local vs. mainland in 2022 : 5.7 %—Price gap local vs. mainland in 2021 : 25.6 % Source : State Department of Agriculture Market Analysis and News Branch —Benchmark prices for a dozen large eggs in December
