Richmond bakery finds a way around tripled egg prices
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Cary Street bakery has figured out a way to keep whipping up treats for Richmonders without crumbling under rising egg prices. An H5 strand of bird flu, otherwise known as avian influenza, has been infecting poultry, other birds and animals throughout America -- including in Virginia. While only a few people have gotten sick, their wallets haven't been so lucky. A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously told 8News that, if even one chicken in a flock tests positive for the bird flu, the entire flock has to be killed. Losing so many chickens has created a supply and demand issue, resulting in higher egg prices for everyone -- whether they be consumers or businesses. RELATED: Doctor explains what Trump’s pause on CDC communication could mean amid bird flu outbreaks Shyndigz, a locally-owned bakery located at 1912 W. Cary Street, told 8News that eggs are a staple ingredient in its desserts and baked goods. Before the outbreak, eggs cost the small business about 25 cents each. Now, they cost about 75 cents each -- a 300% markup. However, Shyndigz's director of culinary operations, William Thompson, said the bakery has found a way around these skyrocketing egg prices -- partnering with local farmers who haven't been impacted by the bird flu. Now, if you visit Shyndigz for a slice of cake or a few cookies, your treats will be made with locally-sourced eggs. “We have a responsibility as a local business to work with other local businesses because it's a sense of community," Thompson said. "So reaching out to the farmers -- they were very happy that we were even interested in purchasing the volume of eggs that we go through from their farms.” RELATED: Two cranes at Metro Richmond Zoo die due to bird flu Per Thompson, this deal benefits everyone: the bakery doesn't have to pay inflated prices, the farmers get business and Shyngigz customers don't have to pay more for their desserts. For more information on the bird flu, visit the VDH's website.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Cary Street bakery has figured out a way to keep whipping up treats for Richmonders without crumbling under rising egg prices.
An H5 strand of bird flu, otherwise known as avian influenza, has been infecting poultry, other birds and animals throughout America -- including in Virginia. While only a few people have gotten sick, their wallets haven't been so lucky.
A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously told 8News that, if even one chicken in a flock tests positive for the bird flu, the entire flock has to be killed.
Losing so many chickens has created a supply and demand issue, resulting in higher egg prices for everyone -- whether they be consumers or businesses.
RELATED: Doctor explains what Trump’s pause on CDC communication could mean amid bird flu outbreaks
Shyndigz, a locally-owned bakery located at 1912 W. Cary Street, told 8News that eggs are a staple ingredient in its desserts and baked goods. Before the outbreak, eggs cost the small business about 25 cents each. Now, they cost about 75 cents each -- a 300% markup.
However, Shyndigz's director of culinary operations, William Thompson, said the bakery has found a way around these skyrocketing egg prices -- partnering with local farmers who haven't been impacted by the bird flu.
Now, if you visit Shyndigz for a slice of cake or a few cookies, your treats will be made with locally-sourced eggs.
“We have a responsibility as a local business to work with other local businesses because it's a sense of community," Thompson said. "So reaching out to the farmers -- they were very happy that we were even interested in purchasing the volume of eggs that we go through from their farms.”
RELATED: Two cranes at Metro Richmond Zoo die due to bird flu
Per Thompson, this deal benefits everyone: the bakery doesn't have to pay inflated prices, the farmers get business and Shyngigz customers don't have to pay more for their desserts.
For more information on the bird flu, visit the VDH's website.
