OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Eggs are one of many things increasing in price, but the Oshkosh Food Co-Op has found ways to keep prices down. The store buys all of its eggs from a farm right here in Northeast Wisconsin.
The Oshkosh store received just over 4,500 eggs Wednesday from Milo’s Poultry Farms in Bonduel.
“We’re working direct with our farmers to try and bring not only product to our tables that are going to last longer, but also on a more affordable aspect,” says JD Gildemeister, the co-op’s general manager.
The food co-op is currently charging $3.29 a dozen for large eggs, $3.49 a dozen for extra large and $3.69 a dozen for jumbo.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for large eggs last month was $4.25 a dozen.
The USDA says a reason for the nationwide increase is an outbreak of Avian influenza in birds.
The Oshkosh Food Co-Op uses more than 75 local purveyors to keep costs low by cutting out larger labor and distribution costs.
“That’s one of the top 10 staple items that people are looking for when they are grocery shopping,” says Gildemeister.
Managers at the Oshkosh Food Co-Op say that after posting prices to social media, eggs sold out within a day.
“I hadn’t even noticed that egg prices were up because we always get our eggs here and they are priced well. And then I came in the other day and they were all gone, so then I heard about the fact that egg prices were up and that they were low here,” says shopper Megan Bartelt.
At a nearby grocery store, we saw eggs listed at $4.99 a dozen — $1.70 more than the co-op’s price.
“Last year alone, that was our first full year of being in business. With those 75 local venders, we were able to support over $250,000 worth of local revenue from those local vendors here in our economy,” Gildemeister.
Gildemeister enjoys how busy the store has been lately and says the store has not had to raise egg prices.
“We’re hoping that we can continue to do that, but, again, it’s working with our local purveyors. If they feel the need to have to raise prices, we will have to consider that, but it’s something we are trying to not do.”
