According to Prairie Research & Associates’ omnibus study in June 2012, 20% of 474 adult Winnipeggers said they are eating more eggs than they have in previous years. This percentage is identical to last year, which reflects the highest number ever recorded. While regular Grade ‘A’ white eggs are still the most common type of eggs people buy (69%), over time we have seen an increase in the purchase of other types of eggs, in particular omega-3, free-run and organic. This year’s survey also found the highest number of people ever recorded who purchase free-run or free-range eggs at 16%, up from 3% in June 2002.

People are less likely to buy eggs based on habit/familiarity or convenience and are instead purchasing eggs for specific reasons. Although price is still quoted as the most common reason to buy (33%), it is now followed by health reasons (24%), and habit (15%). People who buy omega-3 eggs tend to cite health reasons (69%) as the reason they buy; (42%) who buy Grade ‘A’ white do so because of price, and those who buy free-run or free-range are most likely to mention treatment of animals (53%) as the main reason for purchasing these eggs.

When asked how to describe egg farmers, 14% of Winnipeggers used words like essential, important, necessary and valuable, while another 22% described egg farmers as hard-working, busy, and industrious. With respect to animal care, 87% agreed with the statement ‘I trust Manitoba egg farmers to take good care of their hens’, nearly half (46%) strongly agreed.