In New York City, the quest to obtain free eggs drew extensive crowds early Friday morning, illustrating the commodity’s soaring demand. Hundreds braved the cold brisk winds to queue up outside a Harlem restaurant, hoping to claim one of the sought-after egg cartons.
In less than 10 minutes, all 100 cartons at this particular location had been claimed, leaving many hopefuls disappointed. Jackeline Tejava, who arrived well in advance and stood in a line wrapping around the block, expressed her frustration. “I heard they were handing out around 1,500 eggs,” she said, “but not even 20 people have received them. It doesn’t add up.”
The surge in egg prices, which reached unprecedented highs last month, stems largely from a devastating bird flu epidemic. This outbreak has led to the culling of over 168 million birds since 2022, severely impacting egg production nationwide.
The difficulty of finding eggs at reasonable prices persists across New York City. Sometimes shelves remain empty; other times, the available eggs are exorbitantly priced.
The egg distribution came courtesy of FarmerJawn, a Pennsylvania-based enterprise managing a 128-acre farm committed to delivering organic produce to communities in need. Besides Harlem, they orchestrated similar giveaways in Brooklyn and Queens, marking their second initiative in New York City in recent months.
“We feel a duty, as food producers, to support the communities that stand by us,” declared FarmerJawn in an official statement. Collaborating with a local butcher and an upstate New York farm, they endeavored to extend this outreach.
“Everyone deserves access to food as a form of medicine, particularly the oftentimes overlooked middle class,” the organization emphasized.
This philanthropic trend has seen other groups, including churches, organizing egg giveaways throughout the country in cities like Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Richland County, South Carolina.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has prognosticated that egg prices might increase by 41% compared to last year, when the average was $3.17 per dozen. In New York City, the price can soar to double or triple that average, varying by store.
Marion Johnson, another participant who waited over two hours without success, voiced her frustration over the inflated prices. “Eggs are just too expensive,” she conveyed. “Being in these lines highlights the inequality in food access. It isn’t fair for those struggling financially.”