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Mung bean omelet, anyone? Sky high egg prices crack open market for alternatives

A rooster crowing at a farm in Idaho

A rooster crows in a new day at Back Forty Farms in Nampa, Idaho. The rising price of eggs as well as shortages in some areas have created enormous demand for Back Forty's freeze dried eggs. (Back Forty Farms)

Americans love eggs. And it is a consuming love. We eat about 280 eggs a year (more than half an egg per day).

But lately, that love is costing us dearly: The price of eggs has roughly tripled since the pandemic began and egg shortages are hitting parts of the country. That combination has created a rare window of opportunity for substitutes.

Shell-shocked consumers

The price of most food has risen over the last year and while that has caused a lot of shock and hardship for people across the country, the price of eggs has struck a particular chord. Eggs are often seen a cheap, reliable source of protein — a go-to when other things get expensive.

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