October 4, 2010

US egg production increases

Egg production in the US is growing with an increase of eight million eggs since last August and an 11 million growth since July in California alone, according to the California Poultry Report.

This is despite the recent consumer fears of tainted eggs, where eggs contaminated with salmonella from Write County Egg caused over 380 million eggs to be recalled from over 13 different retail brands.

"Production has been stable and good this year," said Steve Gemperle of Gemperle Farms in Turlock. "Prices have been down in the last month because of consumer fear of the recalled eggs," he said.

But despite the recall scare, Gemperle said the egg supply is very safe and that the ranch that produced the recalled eggs is no longer dispersing egg shells.

With the increase in production in California, layers have increased by 1% from last month totaling 19.7 million but layers are down slightly compared to last August, according to the report.

US egg production was also up this year by 2%, totaling 7.74 billion eggs. The US layers also increased, up 2% from last year.

Egg prices nationwide have also increased this year at US$0.624 per dozen in August compared to US$0.096 in July, according to the report. From August 2009 to August 2010, egg prices nationwide had increased by US$0.039.