Late last week U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA was earmarking $1 billion in investments to combat avian influenza and hopefully bring down egg prices for consumers.
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a respiratory disease caused by influenza A viruses. It primarily infects birds, but can spread to other animals, including humans. The recent highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreak in the U.S. has impacted wild birds, poultry, and livestock, significantly affecting the food supply, especially eggs and chicken.
What the USDA is doing. In a statement released by the USDA, Rollins outlined a five-pronged strategy that features “an additional $500 million for biosecurity measures, $400 million in financial relief for affected farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research, action to reduce regulatory burdens, and exploring temporary import options.” In short, the USDA plans to combat the virus, provide relief for farmers, and temporarily increase egg imports and decrease exports to hopefully shore up domestic supplies and manage costs.
What we’re doing. As we reported in January, we continue to stay in touch with our farmers, vendors, and distributors to stay ahead of this and get a sense of what to expect. This week our teams are meeting to discuss creative sourcing for chickens and eggs, similar to our strategies during the pandemic. We’re hoping we can use the Co-op’s nimble and responsive business model and strong supplier partnerships to get product into our stores.
What shoppers need to know. Bottom line, the USDA news is welcome, but supplies are still problematic. As always, look for updates on our blog, e-news, social media, and on signs in our stores. And remember that at the Co-op, we source locally as much as possible, and local farms are the foundation of a strong food supply, even when that supply is threatened.
—Ken Davis, Senior Writer
