A worker sorts out and packs eggs in Egg Production Factory is seen in Mixco, on the eastern outskirts of Guatemala City, Guatemala. Eggs are a nutritious food that contains proteins, vitamins and minerals They can be used in many ways in cooking. The breed of chicken determines the color of the egg. Brown eggs are more expensive because the hens that lay them are larger and require more feed. In 2022, the US produced 92.6 billion table eggs, down 3% from 2021. The US also imports eggs from Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, China, and Turkey. In February 2025, the average price of a dozen eggs in the US was $5.90, a 19.2% increase from January. Egg prices are higher than ever before, and have nearly doubled since January 2023. The USDA projects that by 2026, 71% of US hens will be in cage-free production, this is in response to consumer demand for cage-free and organic eggs. Eggs in Guatemala often come from small local farms, where hens roam freely and eat a natural diet. In Guatemala, eggs are a key part of a traditional breakfast, along with black beans, fresh tortillas, and locally grown coffee. The demand for eggs in Guatemala has increased due to population growth and changing dietary habits. In 2020, the Guatemalan Attorney General's Office discouraged the consumption of Mexican eggs to prevent the introduction of avian influenza from Mexico.
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