Amid egg scarcity, Valley chicken farmer hatches business plan

EDINBURG — What came first; inflation or bird flu?

In the Rio Grande Valley, both have contributed, directly and indirectly, to soaring egg prices and their shortage on store shelves. So for those affected, it really doesn’t matter which came first.

The price of eggs increased by 44% from December to January, up from 0.5% the previous month, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price index report. Fluctuations have ranged in recent months from a decrease of 22% to an increase of 55%, leaving uncertainty in the wake of continued concerns over inflation.

Further aggravating prices has been the outbreak of bird flu in parts of the U.S., which have resulted in a scarcity of eggs, leaving shelves empty in many grocery stores while demand remains high.

This week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported multiple cases of avian influenza, or bird flu, in Comal County — which is located just northwest of San Antonio.

While there have not been any reported cases of bird flu south of San Antonio, its effects are being felt throughout the Valley.

Local business owners have had to adapt to the rising cost of eggs. Taco Palenque, the popular Laredo-based Tex-Mex restaurant, has added a “small surcharge” to its breakfast orders as a result.

With eggs growing more scarce and more expensive, consumers are having to adapt and find other avenues of acquiring their eggs, including local dealers.

Among those options is Chicken Park in Edinburg. Boasting nearly 100 free-range chickens, the small operation has been selling eggs to clients for $5 per dozen for just about three years.

For Jose Mendez, who owns and operates Chicken Park out of his home, the process of raising hens and harvesting their eggs was something that started out as a hobby.

THE EGGMAN

He starts his day by checking the small chicken coop in his backyard for any fresh eggs and making sure that there is plenty of water for his chickens. He then goes to work at La Joya High School where he teaches a law enforcement class.

After work he will once again check the coop before feeding his chickens, which spend most of the day roaming his 5-acre property.

“So it started as a hobby, like this is my entertainment, and now it’s grown into my small business,” Mendez said. “Now I’m actually working with the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) to get a farm number, to get some grants via the USDA as well, and to grow the egg production business into a little bit bigger than just yard sales.”

He said that his hens can produce anywhere from 250 to 360 eggs in a year. On average, he is able to collect two to three dozen eggs daily.

“The egg production has picked up since the winter is almost gone, so warmer days means more eggs,” he said. “I do have a waitlist for about two weeks for people that want eggs, because they’re like, ‘We need eggs. We need eggs.’”

Since his eggs are not regulated, USDA codes do not allow his eggs to be sold in stores.

He said that while the threat of bird flu and the rising cost of eggs have caused problems for consumers, it has created a unique opportunity for his small business and other independent sellers.

“Especially because now that this is going on, people are figuring out that there’s other people or other farms locally that are selling eggs,” Mendez said. “It’s not only me, there’s plenty more, but like, now we’re getting exposure. Some people were like, ‘Oh, because they’re from the farm they might taste different,’ but the only reason why they might taste different is because they’re so fresh compared to the store.”

Mendez said that he is actively preparing to try to meet the growing demand for his eggs. His efforts include working with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement to find ways to attain grants and increase production.

PROTECTING THE FLOCK

He said that he is also proactively working to prevent the spread of bird flu to his flock of chickens.

“It is concerning because we are in the middle of the migration route for birds,” he said. “All the birds go north. All the birds go south. The Rio Grande Valley is the number one birding location for a lot of bird watchers, they come from all over the country to watch a certain breed or species of birds.”

He said that the disease is very contagious. Stopping the spread once it has infected his flock could prove to be a dire task.

“Yesterday, we actually had a seminar with the Health and Human Services there at UTRGV, and as far as right now, there’s no local cases in the Rio Grande Valley or anywhere from San Antonio down,” Mendez said. “Just make sure that you keep an eye on your birds. As long as your birds are clean, you shouldn’t worry about any disease, because if you are dirty, that’s where problems arise.”

Despite the growing demand for eggs, he said that he has no plans to increase the price of his eggs anytime soon.

“You do pay what you get,” he said. “Just because they’re $5 doesn’t mean that they’re not high quality. They’re fresh right off the nest daily. So I feel that that’s a very competitive price; $5 is a good price.”

For more information about Chicken Park, visit their Facebook page of the same name, or visit www.edinburgtxchickenpark.com.

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