Hillandale Farms allegedly charged New Yorkers up to four times the price for a carton of eggs before the COVID-19 pandemic. The egg producer and distributor made a profit of approximately $4 million from price gouging during those two months, the height of the pandemic in New York.
In January, Hillandale Farms charged Western Beef supermarkets prices ranging from $0.59 to $1.10 for a dozen large white eggs. On March 15, it increased the price to $1.49. As the COVID-19 pandemic progress, it repeatedly raised the prices, eventually reaching $2.93 per dozen—almost five times the price in January, according to the lawsuit.
Hillandale Farms allegedly engaged in similar price gouging of eggs sold to the commissary store at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In April, its price for one carton of large eggs was $3.15, almost four times the $0.84 price charged in January.
The Office of the State Attorney General received complaints from consumers who complained that the retail price of eggs from Hillandale Farms is too expensive. An elderly consumer, who buys eggs at Fine Fare store, noted that price doubled—calling it “ridiculous” and disrespectful to people.”
