WAVERLY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — With egg prices soaring past $5 a dozen, many are either paying the high price, or just not buying them, but some are turning to alternatives, including local farms or egg substitutes for cooking.
Bird flu has egg prices skyrocketing but some locals are looking for other ways to get their breakfast and baking staple.
"The egg prices are crazy. They're high. I haven't even bought eggs in about a few months because of how expensive it is," said shopper Tashanna Hendricks.
"It's always the middle class that gets stuck holding the bag," shopper Pedro Anes explained.
"Well I find it pretty shocking, the prices of eggs, it's pretty shocking," another shopped stated.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of a dozen eggs is up almost $2 from last January from $2.51 to over $4.
Much of this is due to an ongoing outbreak of Avian Flu.
Shoppers say they either can spend the extra money or go without eggs.
"Til they come down, there's no point in buying eggs right now," Hendricks added.
But there are other options.
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There are many egg substitutes that can be used in baking like yogurt, buttermilk, sweetened condensed milk, and even apple sauce.
But if you can't go without eggs, prices do seem to be holding steady at local farms.
28/22 News spoke with Liz Krug, the co-owner of Endless Roots Farm in Waverly, who says they don't plan on raising their prices anytime soon.
"We have GMO-free feed. Our birds are pasture-raised, which means they get moved onto fresh pastures. So we've been charging $6 per dozen for a long time. We have not had any sort of raise in several years," Krug explained.
Since some grocery stores are charging $7 for a dozen cage-free jumbo eggs, Endless Root Farm's eggs are less expensive.
"We just don't price gouge, is what it comes down to. We have a steady stream of what our eggs are and our production stays the same, so we're not going to charge our customers anymore," Krug continued.
Krug says the price of eggs in grocery stores continues to rise due to a lack of supply.
Many farmers have been forced to euthanize their birds to combat Avian Flu, something she is thankful they have not had to deal with.
While price may be the main driver for turning to a local farm, it's also a way to support your local community during tough times.
