Eggs Are Not a Commodity

NotACommodityHazel

I love Hazel’s eggs. Hers have speckles and a distinctive point. (See Hazel, Hazel’s Egg, More Hazel, Laying an Egg)

Each hen lays a slightly different egg. And every time they lay an egg, it is never the exact same egg. That eggs are all the same, that each pig is pretty much the same as every other pig, that the wheat Farmer Mack grows is the same as Farmer Joe’s, that foods are pretty much the same and can be treated and sold as commodities, that is the great fantasy underlying modern agriculture. It’s why you see just a handful of apple varieties in your store when there are more than 10,000 varieties. It’s why, when you pick up a carton of eggs and look at them, they look indistinguishable.

NotACommodityShiunhime

Shiunhime’s eggs, above, are dark and lumpy. Nanette’s, below, are pale and small.

NotACommodityNanette
NotACommodityMidge

Midge’s eggs, above, are simple and light. Coullette’s, below, are fat and brown.

NotACommodityCoullette
NotACommodityBecky

Becky lays a medium, oval egg. Put together, it’s clear that each egg is unique, as unique as each hen.

NotACommodityCarton

One Reply to “Eggs Are Not a Commodity”

  1. Mine from our egg lady are all different as well. I enjoy getting a carton of eggs from her, opening it up and comparing the eggs. See what this weeks batch look like. A bit of an egg-venture! Enjoy! Someday I’ll get down your way, and when I know I’m coming I’ll give you a head’s up and get some eggs from your ladies if there are any at that time. Thank you for the egg-post. 🙂

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