The ongoing egg saga continues with an unusual turn of events. So unusual, in fact, that it made international news and has been impacting our local markets and restaurants.
The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the theft of 100,000 organic eggs valued at nearly $40,000. PSP Trooper First Class Megan Frazer said, “In my career, I’ve never heard of a hundred thousand eggs being stolen. This is definitely unique.” Frazer has over a decade of experience but has seen nothing like this.
Just days after the theft, the Associated Press got hold of the story. AP News reported the eggs were stolen from a distribution trailer owned by Pete & Gerry’s Organics in Greencastle, Pennsylvania on Feb.1. The eggs were intended for commercial sale and disappeared on a Saturday night. PSP Trooper Frazer said, “We’re hoping that somebody knows something, and they’ll call us and give us some tips.” To date, no arrests have been made and leads in the investigation are limited.
The Mountaineer reached out to Trooper Frazer and asked, Do you think it was one individual or a group that pulled off the heist? Trooper Frazer responded to a Mountaineer email inquiry and shared this: ”
The International Business Times (IBT) shared the U. S. egg shortage and bizarre theft on Feb.11. The investigation within this small rural town of less than 5000 people, Greencastle, has affected consumers and businesses nationwide. As a result, major retailers have been forced to limit customer purchases. Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger have implemented purchase limits on eggs hoping restrictions help stabilize supply and prevent hoarding.
Pete & Gerry’s Organics have been a constant in the egg business since the early 1980s but transitioned to organic farming in 1997 according to their website. A spokesperson for Pete & Gerry’s confirmed the incident, stating: “We are actively working with local law enforcement to investigate this theft. We take this matter seriously and are committed to resolving it as quickly as possible. Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further,” as reported by IBT.
Authorities have not yet identified any suspects, but due to the high market value of eggs, law enforcement believes the theft was a deliberate, targeted crime rather than a random act of opportunity.”
With egg prices at record highs, not only have egg prices increased over 50%, but the recent theft in Pennsylvania has sparked concerns about the potential rise of the black market, especially in areas facing supply shortages. Retail crime experts warn that stolen eggs could be funneled into unregulated channels, such as farmer’s markets, small grocery stores, and social media platforms, making it difficult for Authorities to track illicit sales.
The Mountaineer spoke to the general managers of Burger King and Wendy’s in Stroudsburg, and asked, “Has the recent increase in egg prices affected your budget or menu?
Burger King General Manager, Rossanna, said, ” No, not yet. We expect it will soon, but so far, no it hasn’t.”
Wendy’s General Manager, Lauren Bjerklie, responded similarly, “No, it hasn’t affected us yet.” She explained that local GMs have no control over menu prices, which falls under district management control.
It appears that the franchise restaurants are big enough to absorb price hikes for now. But, only time will tell how this will affect local and small businesses.
