The Egg Man

At the market on Saturday the people I normally buy eggs from where out so I had to find someone else to get them from. Because there is no way I’m going back to the eggs sold in stores, especially after talking to Chris.

Chris is an extremely charming and friendly Brit who now lives in Capay. He can also sense a question a mile away.

One of his signs said that farmers never refrigerate their eggs which sounded totally crazy to me. So he may have sensed my question because of the perplexed look that was on my face.

I asked him about it and he told me that the US is actually the only country that refrigerates their eggs. The reason for that is because our eggs come from factory farmed chickens that are given various chemicals to keep them healthy while they’re stuffed next to each other and if the eggs weren’t refrigerated they would explode. I'm so glad me boys weren't there to hear that.

Eggs from chickens that are raised on grass and organic chicken feed can be left out (but out of the sun) or put in a pantry for 6 days, after that they do need to be refrigerated.



Those eggs are even so fresh and clean that you can eat them raw and not worry about salmonella. Salmonella is a by-product of bad growing and living conditions of factory eggs. He suggested putting them in a smoothie in the morning.

I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t been brave enough to try that yet. More because I’m worried about it being slimy then because I’m worried I would get sick.

The eggs cost $4.45 for a dozen, although he does give a first time buyer discount. Now that may seem like a lot but how often have you spent that much on a coffee drink? The coffee only last a few minutes, a dozen eggs can last a whole week. I buy 2 dozen for the 4 of us which last at least a week, sometimes more. A box of cereal can cost as much as a dozen eggs, isn’t nearly as good for you and may not last that long. Once you put it in that perspective it doesn't really seem like so much any more.

I'm really glad the other place was out because otherwise I never would have met Chris. He was so friendly and full of information it really made the trip for me.

So if you’re in the Chico area it’s worth the trip on Saturday or Wednesday morning to stop by his stand and get some eggs if for no other reason than to hear his accent.