A US shortage has ramped up the price of imported eggs on Bermuda’s shelves — and led to a dearth of the variety preferred by locals.

According to Stephen Dunkley, general manager of distributors and wholesalers Dunkley’s, the unusual Bermudian preference for brown eggs over white eggs is part of what drove the scarcity.

“Brown eggs have been in short supply since before Christmas,” Mr Dunkley said.

“Brown eggs are not the most popular part of the market, so the supply can get affected very easily.”

Americans overall prefer the less expensive white eggs, he said — although the actual contents of the egg itself aren’t any different.

“I haven’t been given the real reason why there’s a shortage,” said Mr Dunkley.

The company is the Island’s largest supplier of imported eggs, and getting orders filled depends on the vagaries of the US market.

“There are often shortages around Christmas and Easter because people are baking more. Maybe the demand went up higher in the US. But a couple of weeks ago, my supplier just couldn’t fill my orders. That’s why the price of eggs is higher right now.”

The price of eggs fluctuates every few weeks, he said, but a dozen currently costs around $3.89 on Bermudian shelves.

“Normally it’s much lower — normally it’s in the high two’s,” Mr Dunkley explained. “The way forecasts are going, it looks like we’re over the hump. But the price will stay high a little longer.”

Bermuda tends to be “the opposite from the US when it comes to eggs”, he added: despite the trend in the overseas market toward styrofoam packaging, islanders have been sticking to the paper-based cartons.

This too will change.

“The paper cartons are getting harder to find now. There’s less and less demand for them, so they don’t get manufactured,” Mr Dunkley said.

“Dunkley’s eggs will start coming in yellow styrofoam boxes now. The paper boxes have been very difficult to find.”

Egg colour depends on the breed of chicken. White-laying chickens are more popular breed on the US market, making the white-shelled eggs cheaper.