Farmers threaten Easter egg shortage to back demands for higher producer prices
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Egg producers in Finland have given egg packaging plants until Friday to say what they plan to do to boost the producer price of eggs in Finland. Otherwise, the farmers threaten to take eggs off the market for Easter.
"If no answer is forthcoming, or if they do not do anything, the first eggs in Finland will go next week. This is the name of the game now. The situation is so untenable on the farm level. Exporting the eggs is just one phone call away", said egg producer Timo Tukia on Monday.
If Finnish eggs are shipped abroad, the Easter shortfall cannot be offset by importing eggs.
"It is not possible to use any eggs in Finland other than those produced in Finland or Sweden, because other countries do not have the same kind of salmonella monitoring system", Tukia says.
"Last Wednesday we sent lists of names to packaging plants of egg producers that are taking part in this project. There were 82 names on the list at the time, and more are joining in", Tukia warns.
He says that the names already account for a third of Finnish egg-laying hens, and the producers are more unanimous than ever before.
At Finland's largest egg packer, Munakunta, managing director Jan Lähde concedes that the producers' demands are justified, and their economic plight is genuine.
According to Lähde, the market price should be higher, so that the producer prices can be changed, which takes time.
The main problem is oversupply, which has pushed prices down.
"We understand the concern of the producers, and they also understand the market situation", Lähde says. In his view, it is the common goal of everyone that Finnish eggs should be available during Easter as well.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.2.2006 - TODAY |
 Farmers threaten Easter egg shortage to back demands for higher producer prices
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