May is National Egg Month: Maryland Farmers Produce nearly 71 Million Dozen Eggs a Year

Photo by Edwin Remsberg

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland farmers produce nearly 71 million dozen eggs a year. That’s 852 million individual eggs – and a lot of omelets! May is National Egg Month, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) encourages citizens to seek out locally produced eggs. (You can find products near you at: www.marylandsbest.net)

“Eggs are a commodity that can work for both large and small scale producers,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “We’re very proud of our farmers, large and small, who produce nutritious eggs to help meet the demand in our state.”

Each laying bird produces between 280 to 320 eggs a year, and the United States produces about 75 billion eggs a year, about 10 percent of the world supply. In Maryland, the state’s 500 small flocks – that is, operations with fewer than 3,000 chickens — produce about 6 million eggs or 500,000 dozen eggs per year. Only nine producers have more than 3,000 chickens and those nine producers generate more than 70 million dozen (or 840 million) eggs annually.

MDA and Egg Quality and Food Safety

National Egg Month is also a time to recognize MDA’s efforts through its Food Quality Assurance program to protect consumers by enforcing the Maryland Egg Law, which requires all eggs sold in the state to meet standards for safety, quality, labeling and weight. Maryland law prohibits the sale of ungraded, cracked, dirty and/or old eggs.

All wholesalers and egg packers selling eggs in Maryland must register with MDA annually. MDA inspects large and small egg producers, wholesale, food service and retail outlets. MDA removes eggs from sale that do not comply with established standards and, when necessary, takes enforcement action against offenders. This registration and inspection system also allows MDA to trace where an egg came from in the event of an egg-related food borne illness.

MDA also provides grading services. MDA egg graders are trained and licensed by both MDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to certify eggs according to both state and/or federal standards. Consumers who purchase eggs and poultry identified with the USDA grade shield can be assured of a high quality product.

In addition, MDA administers the Maryland Egg Quality Assurance Program, a voluntary program for producers and processors who agree to implement specific management and monitoring practices that have successfully prevented contamination of table eggs.

For more information about MDA’s Egg Safety and Grading Service.

# # #
Follow MDA on Twitter @MdAgDept