Egg prices are rising as avian flu outbreaks continue all over the U.S., but after a Washington supplier lost 1 million chickens to the disease, Alaska’s supply of imported eggs has been hard hit.
Alaska is especially vulnerable to shortages and supply chain issues since approximately 95% of food purchased in the state is imported, according to the Alaska Food Policy Council.
“A majority of the eggs that we import into Alaska are from Washington and the Pacific Northwest,” said Alaska Division of Agriculture Interim Director Mia Kirk. “I would imagine that this is just not an Alaska issue, that it’s probably a nationwide issue.”
It is a nationwide issue as, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. has lost over 43 million egg-laying chickens to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since the outbreak started.
“Speaking to our federal supervisors that work in livestock and poultry division for USDA, they’re hoping that this is nearing its peak as long as there’s no more facilities impacted or affected by avian flu,” said Kirk.
However, local Alaskan suppliers have not been hit as hard by HPAI and are doing well: “I was already sold out, even before the egg shortage I was selling everything I had,” owner of Polaris Farm and hatchery in Palmer, Alaska, Don Dyer, told Alaska’s News Source. “In fact, I’m increasing my flock by almost 500% this next year.”
Due to the farm’s biosecurity measures and limited contact with migratory birds, there has been no trace of HPAI at Polaris Farm.
“My sales on baby chicks is just through the roof right now,” Dyer said. “I’ll be there to meet the demand, but at this point, it just takes a long run to do it.”
According to Alaska’s Division of Environmental Health, the latest case of HPAI in domestic birds was November 25, 2022 at a flock of 33 birds in Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
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