Shell Egg Prices Mixed: Caged Large Falls, Cage-Free Climbs
USDA's 09/21/2026 national FOB index shows Caged Large down to 33.85 cents/dozen from 35.12, while Caged Medium rose to 26.32 from 23.50. Cage-Free Large edged up to 38.17 and Cage-Free Extra Large jumped to 44.53 from 41.88. Retail and loose egg demand are described as light to moderate, with export interest moderate to good.
Why it matters: Cage-free Extra Large's jump to 44.53¢ versus caged Large's drop to 33.85¢ widens the premium, favoring producers who can shift flocks to cage-free.
Sources
Reported by: USDA AMS Daily Shell Egg Index
Get the 6 AM egg-industry brief, free
One email a day with the stories that matter, and instant alerts for critical recalls and outbreaks. Pro readers get every story the moment we pick it up.
Get the free briefPro is $29 a month or $199 a year. First 50 members: $99 a year.