Maine
Stores across Maine are running out of eggs. Blame the avian flu.
The avian flu, compounded with seasonal demand, has significantly affected the number and price of eggs available to retailers across the industry. Above, a few dozen remaining cartons of local eggs are seen Wednesday at Barber Bros. Meat & Provisions in South Portland. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald
Every morning, the staff at Pine Ridge Acres stocks the farm store with 20 dozen eggs. They’re gone within two hours.
The eggs — fresh from the Cumberland farm’s 300 hens and priced at $6 per dozen — used to last the entire day. But as local grocery stores struggle to fully stock their egg coolers and prices continue to climb, more people seem to be turning to local farms, said Sierra Smith, who manages the farm store.
“With local farms, they know where their food is coming from. They can see the exact chickens their eggs came from that morning,” she said. “It gives them more peace of mind.”
The highly contagious avian influenza has wreaked havoc on flocks of chickens around the country, and Mainers are now seeing the impacts in local stores with empty or sparsely stocked egg coolers. The shortage comes as the average cost for a dozen eggs has reached well over $4.
The continuing impact of the avian flu — a virus commonly known as bird flu or H5N1 — has significantly affected the number of eggs available to retailers across the industry. The eggs in stores are safe to eat, but getting them there has become a challenge.
“Customers will continue to find eggs in our stores, however, there may be occasions when a specific brand, size or type is unavailable due to reduced inventory from suppliers,” said Hannaford spokesperson Caitlin Cortelyou.
The impact of avian flu is compounded by the seasonal demand for eggs. Typically, the demand for eggs — and the price shoppers pay for them — goes up around the holidays. But so far this year, prices are not dropping back to preholiday levels.
The bird flu outbreak started in the U.S. in 2022, but the impacts are now more noticeable in the Northeast, where egg supplies are “very light to moderate,” according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released last week.
In the last quarter of 2024, around 20 million egg-laying hens died because of the virus, out of a total of 369 million hens, the USDA said. This has led to fewer eggs headed to grocery stores — and higher prices for the cartons that do wind up on shelves.
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 66 human cases of avian flu across the country, none of them has been in Maine or come closer to the state than Michigan. The virus has swept through populations of poultry and dairy cows and was detected in backyard poultry in York, Kennebec and Knox counties in January and March 2024.
Eggs that are properly handled and cooked are safe to eat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The current cost of eggs is 36.8% higher than in December 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average price of a dozen eggs reached $4.33 last month, according to the American Egg Board.
In Buxton, the egg section at Plummer’s Shop ‘n Save isn’t completely empty, but customers may not see as many options as usual.
“We order extra heavy and hope you get half of what you order,” said owner Garrett Plummer. “We don’t get nearly as much as we’d like or everything we want, but we still get some. It’s not a complete outage.”
Plummer said it’s relatively common during winter to have some trouble getting extra large or jumbo eggs because of seasonal production, but right now, organic and cage-free eggs are also hard to get. The store has not had any trouble keeping eggs from a local farm in stock.
Cartons of eggs are stacked Wednesday in a cooler at Goggin’s IGA in Randolph. The current cost of eggs is 36.8% higher than in December 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
Customers have noticed the egg options are limited at some stores — and they definitely notice the price increases, Plummer said.
“They mention they’re hard to find, and they mention the price,” he said.
Courtelyou, the Hannaford spokesperson, said the Scarborough-based grocery store chain has been looking for new sources and supply channels. She said the company encourages customers to only purchase what they need, rather than buy more just to have them on hand, because of the shortage.
Max Barber, co-owner of Barber Bros. Meat & Provisions in South Portland, said his store has been “pretty blessed” to work with mostly local farms that have been better able to adapt to the shifting market than some of the national egg producers. The shop sells around 80 dozen eggs per week, with about 70% coming from local flocks, Barber estimated.
Barber’s relationships with local farmers also make it easier for the store to adapt to weekly availability, and stocking decisions are an ongoing conversation, he said.
Max Barber, co-owner of Barber Brothers Meat & Provisions, holds a carton of eggs from Sparrow Farm in Pittston on Wednesday at his store in South Portland. The average price of a dozen eggs reached $4.33 last month, according to the American Egg Board. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald
Barber Bros.’ customers are also willing to pay more for local, high-quality eggs, he said. Some call ahead in hopes of making sure their preferred eggs are on the shelf.
“We have a customer base that wants to support the local store, and understands that in supporting us, they’re supporting the Maine farms that we’re partnered with,” Barber said.
Staff Writer Daniel Kool contributed reporting.
They were built decades ago in some of the most picturesque spots across Maine — manmade mountains of granite and brick, concrete and steel, rising beside rivers that powered the state’s booming textile industry through the 1800s and 1900s.
Now, these old mills are increasingly being converted to housing and other purposes. In Biddeford’s sprawling mill district, a variety of housing projects have been completed or are underway, including 154 apartments in the former Pepperell Mill that are being leased or sold as condominiums.
Two of the most recent conversions are Picker House Lofts, a mixed-income rental property in Lewiston, and The Spinning Mill, a housing and commercial project in Skowhegan. Both opened last year.
The Spinning Mill, including 41 apartments, a boutique hotel and a restaurant, received a 2026 Honor Award from Maine Preservation for excellence in historic preservation and rehabilitation.
Here’s a look at those three mill conversions.
The Spinning Mill
Location: Skowhegan, Somerset County
Waterfront: Kennebec River
Year built: 1922
Year renovated: 2025
Number of units: 41
Monthly rent: $1,510-2,750, utility and amenity fees vary
In its peak years, the Maine Spinning Co. employed 300 people and produced 2 million pounds of wool yarn annually in the heart of the downtown district, closing in 2005. High Tide Capital of Bangor purchased the site in 2019 and began a $20 million residential and commercial redevelopment project.
The conversion suffered a major setback in December 2023, when the storm-churned Kennebec fooded the first floor, causing more than $3 million in damage. An economic recovery grant from the state helped the developers clean up and continue.
The adaptive reuse respected the building’s history, preserving wooden floors and high ceilings, oversized windows and exposed brick walls. Modern plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems were installed, along with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.
The four-story building includes studio through three-bedroom units, ranging from 630 to 1,300 square feet. Amenities include a fitness center, mini movie theater, coworking space, resident lounge and art studio. The property also includes The Skowhegan, a 20-room boutique hotel, and the Biergarten, a German-themed restaurant and event space with riverside patio.
Contact: Yates Murphy, The Spinning Mill, 207-951-6475
Picker House Lofts
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Location: Lewiston, Androscoggin County
Waterfront: Androscoggin River
Year built: 1855
Year renovated: 2025
Number of units: 72
Monthly rent: $1,495-2,000 (26 market-rate units); $801-1,332 (46 subsidized); heat, hot water and basic Wi-Fi included
Part of the 7-acre Continental Mill complex, Picker House Lofts is a 79,000-square-foot, mixed-income rental property developed by The Szanton Co. of Portland. The remaining 481,000 square feet of former factory space is being developed to include more than 300 additional apartments along with office, retail and light industrial uses by Chinburg Properties of Newmarket, New Hampshire.
Named for its original function, the five-story building is where workers called “pickers” removed seeds, twigs and other debris from raw cotton before it was woven into cloth.
It includes one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with 46 reserved for households with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income, which ranges from $35,880 for a single person to $51,240 for four people, according to MaineHousing.
The developers preserved historic features where possible, including wood floors, huge operable windows and 13-foot ceilings with exposed overhead carrying beams, while adding modern fixtures, utilities and appliances.
Amenities include a fitness center, indoor bike storage, landscaped courtyard with picnic tables and a communal lounge with adjoining roof deck that overlooks the Androscoggin River. It’s located downtown near a farmers market, museums and a park with a fitness court.
Contact: Saco Falls Management, 207-228-8800
Pepperell Mill
Location: Biddeford, York County
Waterfront: Saco River
Year built: 1845
Year renovated: 2008
Number of units: 154
Monthly rent: $1,695-2,995, utilities and wifi included
Originally converted by local developer Doug Sanford, apartments in the Pepperell Mill Campus retain many historic features from its textile-weaving past, including 10- to 18-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls and beams, and honey-colored maple floors.
Now owned and managed by Texas-based Presidium, the property is available to lease or purchase residential units as they come on the market, providing what the company calls a “try before you buy” opportunity. It’s part of a 17-acre complex in the heart of a downtown that includes a variety of small businesses, artists, restaurants, breweries and coffee shops.
Apartments range from economical studios to luxury two-bedroom, two-bathroom units that include washer-dryer hookups. Available condos are priced from $325,000 to $1.5 million, according to Portside Real Estate Group.
Units feature modern finishes and oversized, industrial-style windows, many with views of the Saco River. Amenities include smart laundry facilities, green spaces with seating areas and gas grills, riverside picnic areas and a dog-washing station.
Contact: Pepperell Mill Campus, 207-282-5577, Ext. 201
PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) — It’s graduation season, and 37 medical school grads received their degrees Saturday at USM.
The students graduated from the MaineHealth Maine Track program, which is a part of Tufts Univeristy in Boston.
Program leaders say students specifically trained in community-based medical practices across Maine.
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Eleven of the graduates will begin their residencies at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland.
David Heidrich lives in Augusta.
From the cliffs of Acadia to the woods and waters of Katahdin’s national monument, Maine’s public lands are more than scenic, they are the backbone of our economy and way of life. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in these or other public places knows that they offer more than just natural beauty. They are central to our identity, drawing visitors from around the world, supporting small businesses and sustaining jobs in communities across the state.
As someone deeply invested in the success of Maine’s outdoor recreation and tourism industries, I know that investing in our public lands will support thriving communities for generations to come. But maintaining these places requires more than appreciation, it requires sustained investment and action.
In 2020, Congress recognized that many of our country’s national parks and other public lands were suffering from decades of deferred maintenance. Roads, bridges, water systems, historic structures and visitor facilities were aging faster than they could be repaired. In response, lawmakers passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which created the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF).
This landmark legislation provided five years of dedicated funding to address long-overdue repairs on federal lands. Here in Maine, the LRF delivered $54 million for critical repairs to our public lands. These investments supported projects at places like Acadia National Park — improving trails, restoring historic carriage roads and upgrading essential infrastructure — as well as work on national forests and wildlife refuges across the state. These projects have served to protect natural resources, improve safety and enhance visitor experiences while supporting local economies.
Now, with that funding having expired, Congress is considering the America the Beautiful Act, introduced by Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and Maine’s own Sen. Angus King. The bill has received strong bipartisan support, and I want to thank Sen. King and Sen. Collins for their leadership in advocating for this important legislation.
The America the Beautiful Act rises above politics and reflects a shared commitment to conservation and safeguarding the places that help define both Maine and our nation. By continuing to invest in our public lands, we ensure they sustain local economies while preserving natural resources for residents, visitors and future generations alike.
Outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of Maine’s economy. Each year, millions of visitors come to experience our parks, trails, waterways and working forests — supporting roughly 32,000 jobs and generating $3.9 billion in economic activity. That is approximately 5% of Maine’s workforce and 4% of its GDP, respectively. Communities throughout Maine depend on these visitors, and the continued health of our public lands is essential to their continued success.
While important progress has been made, maintenance backlogs on our federal lands persist and require reliable, long-term funding. Congress should pass the America the Beautiful Act because it would provide $2 billion per year for eight additional years to address ongoing maintenance needs across national parks and public lands — without raising taxes.
This is accomplished by: 1) dedicating lease and royalty payments from energy producers operating on federal lands and waters to conservation, 2) requiring federal agencies to identify and dispose of unneeded assets, and 3) leveraging private funding by introducing a preference for projects with a 15% financial match from private stakeholders or nonprofit organizations.
By passing this legislation, Congress can ensure that Maine’s treasured public lands remain safe, accessible and vibrant. If we want future generations to experience Maine as we know it today, we need to invest in it now.
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