Back in the day, Sam and I received a dozen eggs a week from Diana Murphy of Dreamfarm in Cross Plains, WI. If I remember, we paid $120 for 24 deliveries, or $5 per dozen eggs. Diana sells a dozen eggs at the Westside Farmers’ Market in Madison for $4.25. I’ve been to her farm on many occasions and I was able to see how she keeps her chickens.

The Madison area also had Phil’s Eggs, that are raised in Forreston, IL, near where I grew up.  I was able to tour their farm in high school and see how they were raising cage-free (but not free range) hens. These eggs were cheaper – If I remember $2.99 per dozen.

Confused about these egg terms? CNN has a guide that explains egg terminology and what’s regulated by USDA and what’s fluff.

So given that we had been noshing on humane eggs, I now have to relearn the market, in order to choose good eggs. I had to go scouting for prices on eggs. We eat a LOT of eggs, usually a dozen a week. Please don’t tell my doctor.

Eggs at the COOP

• Conventional eggs. $2.79
• Nature’s Yoke $2.99. Cage-free. Organic. Veggie Fed.
• Nellie’s Nest $3.99. Cage-free.
• Pete and Gerry’s $3.79. Organic.
• Organic Valley $4.99. Organic.

Eggs at the Norwich Farmers’ Market

• Echo Hill $4.25
• Luna Bleu $4.75. Free-range. Organic. Pasture fed.
• On the Edge $3.50.

I’ll fill in more details about how hens are raised at Echo Hill and On the Edge Farm once I’m able to talk more to the producers.

So we’re paying a premium for farmers’ market eggs. However, that premium may be from smaller production, hence small-scale markups, or else the hens may be kept in better (more expensive) conditions. The big advantage is that I can talk to the chicken farmers at the market and ask them questions about how their chickens are raised. I’m willing to pay a premium for humane chicken treatment, but typically not a premium for organic feed.