From AgWeb:
Easter egg supplies could be at risk due to the expanding outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Analysts with CoBank are saying outbreaks and depopulation within the U.S. layer flock are adding stress to egg supply chains, many of which haven’t fully recovered from the disruptions caused by COVID.
While egg production has stabilized in recent months, it is still well below pre-pandemic levels and egg availability could be limited leading into Easter, according to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
“U.S. egg producers have been hard-pressed to align supplies with market demand over the last two years,” reports Brian Earnest, lead animal protein economist with CoBank. “The U.S. layer flock typically expands ahead of the surge in demand for Easter and contracts during the summer months. But recent losses due to HPAI have combined with high feed costs and other challenges that are severely limiting flock size management.” ...
....MUCH MORE
Combine that with the price action in confections, candy and other sweets:
Easter bunny battered by candy business inflation
Americans face a real candy crush this Easter.
Soaring costs of raw materials such as milk, sugar and cocoa, and a shortage of aluminum used to make wrappers, have sparked a surge in the cost of candy, making it more expensive than ever for the Easter Bunny to fill baskets on April 17.
“We’re just going to stick with the basics and buy only what we need,” said Monica Matute, a stay-at-home mom from Bensonhurst, who will celebrate Easter with her two daughters and two nieces, ages 3 to 15. “It’s not like before. You can just see the difference in prices anytime you go to the supermarket.”
A Post survey of seasonal sweets shows the average cost of an Easter basket has skyrocketed to $61.83, up from $50.46 in the pre-pandemic spring of 2019. That’s an increase of 22.5%, more than double the already historic 9% percent inflation rate in the same period....
....MUCH MORE (NY Post)
And the urchins may be about to learn of the traditional Easter legumes and soup dinner.
