By Bryan Manabat
Saipan-- Customers at Joeten Superstore Wholesale emptied the chiller display taking advantage of the sale price of large eggs at $9.63 per five dozen.
People came out with more than two packs each, and some retailers availed of the bargain deal, purchasing two shopping carts full of eggs or more. The eggs were sold out in less than 30 minutes.
The current average price of large eggs on Saipan is between $3.89 and $4.59 a dozen. Extra large eggs are sold for between $3.99 and $4.69 a dozen, while loose medium eggs are priced at $9.99 per 30 pieces.
The prices of eggs, presumably one of the most affordable items in the grocery store, are commonly the indicator of inflation, the state of the economy, and the poultry situation.
Most egg supplies in the CNMI are imported from the U.S.
Last year, the nation was hit by what was dubbed "the egg crisis," resulting from the depletion of inventories that caused prices to soar to as much as $10 a dozen.
Victor Cabrera, an educator at the CNMI Public School System, started producing local eggs in 2014 when his daughter developed an allergy to store-bought eggs.
His aunt advised them to try giving their daughter fresh eggs instead.
"She had no allergic reaction to them., so I started raising chickens since then. My daughter used to get hives and got really itchy anytime she ate anything made with store eggs, even to this day. But when we used fresh eggs, no reaction at all. Not sure why, and at the time I didn't care, I was just happy she could enjoy eggs and things made with fresh eggs," said Cabrera.
"Even in the U.S., my daughter would only buy fresh farm eggs, which always cost more than commercially produced eggs, but she never had an allergic reaction. She still gets hives if she eats cake or baked goods made with regular store eggs," he added.
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According to Cabrera, the cost of eggs fluctuates based on supply.
"For instance, back in April, avian flu hit egg producers in Texas. Those companies had to exterminate their entire flock, sanitize their farms and start over. That takes about four months. During that time, the egg supply drops while the demand is still high and oftentimes increasing the costs of eggs. Producers in other states increased their prices to fulfill the demand that Texas was fulfilling during those 4 months to recover. So we see egg prices go from $2.79 up to $5 sometimes for these imported eggs," Cabrera said.
"Locally, the cost of eggs is determined by the costs of feeds. When inflation hit and the cost of importing feed went up, farmers on island had no choice but to increase their prices as well to stay in business," he added.
The increased shipping cost, Cabrera said, caused the egg prices to go up from $1.39 to $2.79 a dozen. "And I believe the price should be at its new low of $3.30 a dozen by the end of the year," he added.
Cabrera sells the eggs produced at his farm for $4 a dozen.
"In that price, it allows me to break even. I don't sell eggs for the profit, I sell them to ensure my family members have access to eggs, all the while allowing me to continue buying feed for my birds," Cabrera said.
Cabrera is asking the community to support local farmers and producers to cut the CNMI's dependence on imports.
"Eggs is a great start to making this idea a reality. The feed challenges can be mitigated by supplementing feed with locally grown products like corn, greens, fruits and kitchen scraps," he added. "The more supplemental feed you include, the lower the feed cost and the better the quality of the eggs."
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