Why B.C. Egg Prices Stay Stable While U.S. Costs Soar

While U.S. shoppers continue to feel the pinch of soaring egg prices, British Columbians are enjoying relative stability — and local egg producers say it's no accident.

According to B.C. Egg spokesperson Amanda Brittain, Canada’s supply management system is playing a key role in protecting consumers from the volatility affecting markets south of the border.

“We produce just enough eggs to feed the people of Canada,” said Brittain. “Here in B.C., most of the eggs are farmed right in the province, so we don’t have large excesses or dependencies on exports.”

Unlike the U.S., B.C. does not export any whole-shell eggs, and farms are generally much smaller in scale. That means outbreaks like the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has devastated the American egg industry, have far less impact here.

Smaller farms, smaller outbreaks

Since the beginning of 2024, over 70 million laying hens — roughly 19 per cent of U.S. production — have been affected by HPAI, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. That’s nearly three times the size of Canada’s entire laying hen population.

“When one farm is impacted in Canada, it has less of an impact on the market overall,” said Brittain.

She also noted a modest five per cent increase in egg prices in B.C. over the same period last year — a jump partially attributed to Easter falling later in 2025.

Still, she says eggs remain “one of the least expensive proteins in the grocery store.”

Backyard flocks on the rise

Amid rising grocery bills, some British Columbians are taking egg production into their own hands — literally.

At Purity Feed in Kamloops, staff say more customers are exploring backyard poultry as a cost-effective and sustainable way to produce protein.

“We’re seeing a huge rise in people wanting to really pay attention and have a hand on where their food comes from,” said employee Miya Lopes.

For many, the motivation is part economic, part environmental, and part experiential.

“Building henhouses and raising chicks — especially when you have young kids — can be an extremely memorable and rewarding experience,” said Lopes.

And with eggs increasingly viewed as a safe, affordable staple, B.C.'s measured approach to production may continue to pay dividends for both producers and consumers alike.