Egg prices have been cracking records lately—but not in the way shoppers want. Thanks to a relentless wave of avian flu, the cost of conventional eggs has soared, sometimes even surpassing the price of premium, pasture-raised options. The surprise? These specialty eggs, long considered a splurge, are now holding steady—or even looking like a deal.
Nationwide, egg prices have nearly doubled since early 2024, driven by the loss of over 50 million hens due to bird flu outbreaks. Meanwhile, farms like Pete & Gerry’s, which work with small-scale producers raising hens outdoors, say their prices haven’t budged much. That stability is turning heads at the grocery store.
“People are noticing they can get a carton of eggs from pasture-raised hens, often raised more humanely and sustainably, for the same price—or less—than mass-produced eggs,” said Cameron Whitehead of Pete & Gerry’s.
Smaller farms may not be immune to bird flu, but their operations don’t rely on shared equipment or crowded barns where illness spreads fast. And since they don’t follow the commercial model, their prices aren’t as tied to volatile supply swings.
Egg farmer Larry Schultz of Minnesota says input costs like feed and cartons drive his prices, not market speculation. Still, he’s seeing a surge in demand. “Suddenly I’m the cheapest on the shelf,” he said.
As shoppers rethink what they value in a carton of eggs, pasture-raised farms may offer more than affordability—they may offer peace of mind.
