LAKE COUNTY, Fla — A grocery staple is becoming more expensive and even more elusive after a sharp rise in price. The price of eggs is nearly 50% higher than a year ago.

Prices that are leaving consumers surprised. Rebecca Freeman owns Howey Homestead in Lake County. She’s been selling eggs going on four years.

“I come from 30 years in the medical field. My husband is 28 years in the law enforcement field. Those are serious fields, medical and law enforcement. After we semi-retired from that, we wanted to farm this land that God gave us,” said Rebecca Freeman, Co-Owner of Howey Homestead. 

Recently, the phone has been ringing off the hook because of rising egg prices.

“We used to have an egg side out at the road where passer-bys could buy our eggs, but we’ve had to take that down because of the demand,” said Freeman.

According to the Consumer Price Index, eggs are almost 50% more expensive than they were last year. The culprit, partly a nationwide bird flu outbreak last February.

For Freeman, his costs are being driven up by increased fuel and feed costs, which she says have nearly doubled.

The rising costs to upkeep the farm, the difference ends up falling on the consumer. Freeman raised her prices this year to $5 for a dozen eggs. She’s now working to teach people how to raise a flock of their own, so they too can have farm fresh eggs.

“I would say not to do it just for the eggs. You really have to like animals and know what their needs are. Even though chickens are somewhat easy to raise, they have needs and you want to care for them just like your other pets,” said Freeman. 

The price of eggs won’t be coming down anytime soon. Many consumers may need to hatch a plan for other alternatives or be forced to pay the price.