Egg shortage hits Milwaukee businesses
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- For the first time in decades, Tower Chicken Farm in Milwaukee cannot sell customers a dozen eggs. Co-owner Greg Schmidt says the store, which has specialized in poultry products since 1948, says his suppliers only have "loose eggs," which are sold in bulk and not packaged for resale.
"As far as getting whole birds and things like that, that hasn't been affected. The only thing I can't do is get eggs," said Schmidt.
Schimdt wonders if the shortage has negatively impacted overall sales at his store.
"They walk in the front door, they say, 'Can I get a couple dozen eggs?' And I'm like, 'Sorry, I'm out of eggs.' They walk out. If I would go over and grab the two dozen eggs and put 'em on the counter, would they be more apt to buy a fryer or a roaster or a soup chicken or some chicken breasts or something? Maybe."
The root of this shortage is a nationwide outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu, which has led to the culling of over 150 million birds since 2022. This has drastically reduced the egg supply, causing prices to soar and prompting retailers to impose purchasing limits. Nationwide, stores like Aldi, Trader Joe's, and Pick 'n Save have restricted egg purchases to manage the dwindling supply.
To better understand the local impact, we visited area stores to check on the availability of eggs. At Walmart, there were no limits on egg purchases. Metcalfe’s in Wauwatosa had some empty shelves, but no purchasing limits. However, at Costco in Grafton, there were no eggs available at all. Meanwhile, Metro Market in Wauwatosa and the Aldi on Miller Park Way had signs asking customers to limit their egg purchases to two cartons per visit. Local restaurants like Pegasus in West Allis have also had to adjust their portions in response to higher prices.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that egg prices will continue to rise in 2025, with an anticipated increase of 20.3%. This surge is attributed to the ongoing avian flu outbreak and its impact on egg production. The USDA also forecasts that farm-level egg prices will climb by 45.2% in 2025.
Schmidt says consumer behavior will play a crucial role in managing the shortage. He advises against hoarding, as it exacerbates the problem: "When you go to the grocery store, well, I need a dozen eggs. Buy a dozen eggs, don't buy three just because there's a shortage."