While the cost of food is on the decline, breakfast lovers continue to reel from their dented wallets as the price of eggs and orange juice remain up.
Inflation has not been kind to the egg aficionados with prices as high as $7.37 for a dozen in states like California as recently as December and there are currently no signs of reprieve. Elsewhere, prices are cheaper than those in the Golden State but still expensive relative to the area. In December, the average U.S. price of eggs was $4.25
Supply chain disruptions have been identified as at least one of the issues causing prices to remain high but the avian bird flu has really wreaked havoc on the poultry industry. Right now, the market is experiencing the worst cases of bird flu and as a result more than 44 million egg-laying hens have died.
The issue is compounded when chickens that are at risk of contracting bird flu are euthanized in an effort to mitigate the spread. The New York Times reported that the depopulating of healthy birds on top of those that have succumbed to illness has slashed the nation's egg supply by more than 7 percent.
With egg demand peaking in December, customers could see a dropoff in price in the coming months.
While your scrambled eggs might cost a little less in the future, if you want to wash them down with some OJ, it will cost you.
Florida is currently experiencing its smallest citrus crop since the 1936-1937 season and it all started in early 2022. A January deep freeze in the sunshine state stunted growth of fruits, then Hurricane Ian bombarded the state and it was hit with another major hurricane in Nicole two months later in November.
The biggest culprit in the rise in cost of Florida oranges is the ongoing citrus tree disease. The disease, which causes leaves and fruit to drop prematurely, is typically spread via major rain events like hurricanes or through insects.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture anticipates around 20 million boxes of oranges to be produced this year, which is a 51 percent drop off from 2022.
In what could be the biggest deal in video games history, Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard underlines the company's aggressive push in gaming and beyond into its long-term vision of being top dog in the metaverse. Adam Hollander, former director of gamification at Microsoft and founder of Hungry Wolves NFT, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss. “Microsoft always plays chess, not checkers," he said, describing the price tag as an opportunity cost. "It's about integrating Activision Blizzard in with Azure and Windows and Xbox and Hololens and Minecraft and everything else that they're doing for the inevitable goal of being the major player in the next phase of the internet."
Jordan Zakarin, Media Producer at A More Perfect Union, joined Cheddar News to break down the latest from Colorado, where at least 8,700 Kroger employees walked off the job in demand of increased benefits and wages.
Food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Strella Biotechnology is trying to solve the problem by introducing new technology to a business that's been around for generations -- farming. The 24-year-old CEO created hi-tech sensors that interpret the shelf life of produce and alert farmers when fruits and vegetables are ready to be sent to supermarkets. The company says the process can help farmers make money, reduce food waste and increase the quality of produce. Strella Biotechnology's co-founder and CEO Katherine Sizov and co-founder and COO Jay Jordan joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Norbu Tenzing, Vice President of the American Himalayan Foundation and the son of the first Sherpa to ever summit Everest, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss how Sherpa's put themselves in danger for clients, and the dangers of Everest's 'Death Zone.'
Gordon Janow, Director of Programs at Alpine Ascents, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss how to get mentally and physically prepared to climb Mount Everest.
Netflix may not be staying at the top of the streaming wars, according to some wary investors, as competition heats up and it raises prices yet again. Tuna Amobi, director and senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, spoke with Cheddar about what investors should be considering should they stick with the streaming pioneer or drop the investment. "I think it's always mostly about the subscriber growth for the Q4, which is going to be an indicator of how the company has been navigating the speed bumps that we saw early in the year," said Amobi.
Daniel Loría, SVP content strategy and editorial director at Boxoffice Media, joins Cheddar News to discuss what helped 'Scream' score number one at the box office and what it means for the horror genre.
Dave Levinthal, deputy Washington Bureau chief at Insider, joins Cheddar News to discuss Gallup's new survey that reveals more Americans leaned Republican by the end of 2021.
