NewsEaster creativity cracked: Americans turn to potatoes

Easter creativity cracked: Americans turn to potatoes

High egg prices in the U.S. are forcing Americans to seek creative solutions for Easter. Instead of traditional egg dyeing, they are increasingly turning to potatoes, marshmallows, or onions, reports "The New York Times."

Easter eggs. Illustrative photo
Easter eggs. Illustrative photo
Images source: © PAP | Marek Zakrzewski
Paulina Ciesielska

What you need to know

  • High egg prices: In the U.S., egg prices have risen, prompting many to look for alternatives for Easter.
  • Creative substitutes: Instead of eggs, Americans are dyeing potatoes, marshmallows, and onions to keep the holiday spirit alive.
  • Tradition endures: Despite alternatives, 90% of PAAS customers still plan to dye eggs, showing a strong attachment to tradition.

The U.S. is grappling with an egg crisis. Store shelves are empty, and egg prices have soared, all due to avian flu, which has decimated local chicken farms.

Americans dyeing potatoes

Faced with the crisis and the upcoming Easter holidays, Americans, as reported by "The New York Times," are beginning to seek alternative solutions. They are using potatoes, marshmallows, and onions for egg dyeing, which are much cheaper and readily available.

The newspaper also references the traditional U.S. egg hunt, an activity that involves searching for hidden eggs. This year, at Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm in Ohio, plastic eggs with coupons for free horseback rides were used for the first time in 40 years.

The decision was made not only due to high costs but also out of concerns about depleting local egg supplies.

- People were quietly scared we'd cancel the event because of egg prices currently. So they're glad we're still doing it - says John Young, who runs the family farm.

Despite rising prices, many Americans are not giving up on traditional egg dyeing. Quoted by the newspaper, Joe Ens, CEO of PAAS, a company that sells egg dyeing kits, emphasizes that 90% of customers still plan to dye eggs this year.

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