Until now, the U.S. was the only country allowed to export eggs to Canada. Decreasing stocks in the U.S. has prompted Canada to add Ukraine to the list.

  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    1 day ago

    I have to wonder at the price of eggs, such that refrigerating and shipping them across an entire hemisphere is economically feasible. Wouldn’t it make more sense to sell Ukrainian eggs in, like, Poland or Romania or Germany? And then sell Polish/Romanian/German eggs westward from there?

    This seems less like “supporting Ukraine” and more like “spending a fortune on bulk shipping to avoid dealing with bird flu at home.”

    • IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      20
      ·
      1 day ago

      Canada doesn’t really have the same kind of massive factory farming practices that the US does, and the bird flu problem is already far more contained. I think this is mostly a show of support for Ukraine kind of thing.

    • iopq@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      21 hours ago

      Because Polish farmers are bitching about Ukrainian imports into Poland decreasing local prices

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        14 hours ago

        This appears to be the real hurdle to Ukrainian economic relief. We could be raising the standard of living across the entire region, rather than pitting Polish and Ukrainian farmers against one another in a free market squeeze.

    • moody@lemmings.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      1 day ago

      Unwashed eggs don’t need to be refrigerated. I would assume any washing would be done in Canada, as we’re basically the only ones who do it, along with the US.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 day ago

        Why The U.S. Chills Its Eggs And Most Of The World Doesn’t

        In some European countries, egg-laying hens are vaccinated against salmonella. In the U.S., vaccination is not required, but eggs must be washed and refrigerated from farm to store, and producers must follow a host of other safety measures.

        Another perk of consistent refrigeration is shelf life: It jumps from about 21 days to almost 50 days.

        So egg washing provides two big benefits - eliminating the need for chickens to be vaccinated and extending their shelf-life. Which brings us back to time-to-market for a poorly regulated product that needs to travel nearly 5000 miles.

        • vxx@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          edit-2
          1 day ago

          The second benefit is only one if you forget that unwashed eggs can be refeigerated as well. In fact, I get my eggs from the farmer the day they got layed and put them in the fridge.

          The first benefit is that it’s a tiny bit cheaper to produce, but the savings obviously don’t end up with the customers, as egg prices indicate.

          • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            6
            ·
            1 day ago

            The second benefit is only one if you forget that unwashed eggs can be refeigerated as well.

            But that still brings us back to the problem of long distance refrigerated delivery.

            In fact, I get my eggs from the farmer the day they got layed and put them in the fridge.

            Farmers living 5000 miles away?

            The first benefit is that it’s a tiny bit cheaper to produce

            How on earth is chicken farming in an active war zone cheaper than doing it closer to home?

    • Cyborganism
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 day ago

      That’s true. But maybe they transform them before shipping them? Like powdered eggs or things like that?