Local egg prices on the rise; area supply holds on

While there was some empty space on the refrigerated shelves at Freshtown in Amenia on Feb. 14, eggs were available in a range of prices and varieties.
Photo by Krista A. Briggs
While there was some empty space on the refrigerated shelves at Freshtown in Amenia on Feb. 14, eggs were available in a range of prices and varieties.
With avian flu continuing to compromise the wellbeing of domestic American fowl, egg shortages have been reported across the United States.
Some shops with eggs in stock are increasing prices and imposing limits on the number of purchases per customer. But it’s not just consumers who are feeling the pinch of egg shortages and pricing increases. Restaurants are also being impacted.
In Northern Dutchess, eggs remain for sale, be it at the gas station, the market or a farm.
In the local area, eggs for sale are at price points higher than the national average, which generally tends to be the case with New York state. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor as reported on USDA.gov in January, the average national price of a carton of eggs was listed at $4.95 per dozen — up $0.81 per dozen from December 2024.
According to a statement on the USDA website posted on Jan. 31 regarding New York eggs, “Prices are up 7 cents for extra-large and large and 9 cents higher for medium ... Demand is moderate to good. Offerings are very light. Supplies are very light to moderate. Market activity is active.”
Locally, egg prices are mixed within a certain range with no clear explanation as to the variables in pricing, product and venue.
Local egg prices
On Feb. 12, eggs could be found at Cumberland Farms on Route 44 in Millerton for $7.99/dozen. A few doors down at the Gulf station, prices were not displayed, perhaps in response to fluctuations in the market, but eggs were stocked on their shelves.
On Feb. 14, Freshtown in Amenia featured multiple refrigerated shelves of eggs with pricing contingent on size and color. A standard carton of medium eggs was listed at $7.49/dozen while a carton of jumbo eggs was listed at $9.49/dozen. Extra-large brown eggs were listed at $8.99. Specialty eggs were also found on their shelves. Legacy’s large brown free-range eggs were priced at $6.99/dozen. Eggland’s Best organic brown eggs were priced at $8.49. Vital Farms pasture-raised large brown eggs were listed at $9.99/dozen.
That same day, local eggs from the Sharon Farm in East Canaan, Connecticut, were spotted for sale at Sharon Market at $7.99/dozen. While the number of cartons was limited in comparison to Freshtown, farm-fresh eggs were ready for purchase in varying shades of brown. Egg size was not listed on the label.
Peck’s Market in Pine Plains offered plenty of eggs on its shelves and featured pricing ranging from under $6.00 for a dozen large white cage-free eggs from Noah’s Pride to $7.59/dozen for brown free-range Grade A eggs. A dozen eggs, size indeterminate, at Millbrook Beef & Dairy listed at $8.00/dozen. The cashier stated their eggs are gathered fresh and sold on the same day. Indeed, only one carton remained available for purchase on Friday, Feb. 14 in the afternoon.
Sandy Sherman, proprietor of the Talk of the Towne deli in Millerton, has witnessed past price jumps in eggs. Sherman noted previous fluctuation in egg pricing typically resulted in decreases as avian flu ran its generally seasonal course, but she is concerned about the 2025 increase, which she doesn’t anticipate trending downward anytime soon. According to Sherman, she is now paying $90 for 15 dozen eggs as opposed to $50 per 30 dozen, which is what she paid last year. Sourcing eggs has been an issue for Talk of the Towne, but only because one of its suppliers is no longer in the business.
While Sherman hasn’t revised menu pricing and would prefer to steer clear of price increases altogether, she hasn’t ruled it out entirely, saying, “If it [egg supply pricing] keeps going, we’ll have to.”
As with Sherman, Jessica LeJeune, manager of the Oakhurst Diner in Millerton, has also seen previous pricing fluctuations with eggs, but costs remain the same for its customers.
LeJeune, however, remains optimistic that the situation will change, saying, “We’ve seen this trend before.” LeJeune was quick to point out the Oakhurst periodically enacts slight across-the-board price tweaks due to rising costs. She also maintained the diner has no plans to utilize egg substitutes or other less expensive options.
For anyone who has opted against paying high egg prices, whether in restaurants or stores, there is an alternative, premises-permitting. Kristen Maillet of Agway, in conjunction with her husband, Frank, has been tending her own flock of egg-laying chickens at home for the past 2-1/2 years. While her flock produces fewer eggs in the winter, which is when chickens can molt, Maillet conveyed some eggs have been laid, a number which can double in the summer. Maillet has opted against selling eggs, preferring to share extras with friends or coworkers.
Costs per adult laying hens can range in the region from $20-$30 per bird with monthly costs for feed running around $15/bag. In addition to feed, Maillet also provides fruit and vegetables to her flock whenever possible. She and her husband guard their chickens carefully with a predator-proof coop from the ground to the sky, with Maillet noting, “It’s like Fort Knox.”
For more information on starting a chicken flock, visit: agway.com, navigate to “Events” and select “2025 Chick List.”
While eggs have become more expensive in Northern Dutchess, price points throughout the region are more or less in line with Hudson Valley egg pricing. This past weekend, prices for a carton of large white eggs ranged from $4.49/dozen for Eggland’s Best to approximately $11 for an 18-pack of Vital Farms brown eggs at Foodtown in Cold Spring in Putnam County. At Adams Fairacre Farms in Wappingers Falls, the starting price for a carton of large eggs, white or brown, was listed at $7.49 with prices gradually increasing by egg size.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025