Attorney General James Secures More Than 140,000 Eggs for Western New York Families

August 18, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the delivery of more than 140,000 eggs to FeedMore Western New York in Buffalo as part of a bipartisan multistate settlement with Cal-Maine Foods (Cal-Maine), Versova/Centrum (Versova), and Hickman's Egg Ranch (Hickman's) for years of price fixing. A multistate investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alongside the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and 16 other states revealed that Cal-Maine, Versova, and Hickman's illegally coordinated to influence a daily price index for eggs. The investigation alleged that this coordination artificially increased prices for retailers and consumers throughout the country for years. Under a settlement with the states, the three egg producers will deliver 53 million eggs to food banks in the 17 participating states, including 4,968,000 eggs to New York. In addition to the egg deliveries, the companies will pay $3.3 million to the states and make changes to their practices to prevent future violations of the law. The delivery of 11,700 cartons of a dozen eggs to FeedMore Western New York is the seventh in a series of egg deliveries to food banks statewide.

"No New Yorker should have to pay extra for essentials at the grocery story because corporations are rigging the market," said Attorney General James. "Our investigation unearthed an illegal scheme to raise egg prices across the country, and now we are holding the companies behind it accountable. I am grateful to FeedMore Western New York for their partnership in distributing these eggs to New Yorkers across the region."

"FeedMore WNY is grateful for the donation of 140,000 eggs, secured by New York Attorney General James," said Lisa Woodring, FeedMore WNY Executive Vice President of External Affairs. "These nutrient-dense, protein-rich eggs will be distributed to FeedMore WNY's network of nearly 400 hunger-relief partners to nourish food-insecure community members of all ages throughout Western New York."

More than 140,000 eggs delivered to FeedMore Western New York that will be distributed throughout Western New York

Attorney General James and the coalition's investigation found that beginning at least as early as 2022, these three major egg producers secretly coordinated their bidding strategies to influence the daily egg price quotes published by Urner Barry, a benchmark pricing service widely used in egg supply contracts. The companies submitted sham bids at artificially inflated prices to distort the market, then withdrew those bids, intentionally aiming to raise the Urner Barry price quotes. By manipulating the Urner Barry benchmark, the companies artificially inflated the price of eggs paid by retailers and consumers nationwide.

As a result of settlements with OAG and the coalition of states, the three companies will deliver a total of 53 million eggs to food banks and nonprofit organizations across the participating states and pay a combined $3.3 million. Under a separate settlement with DOJ and the coalition of states, the companies will also adopt compliance measures to prevent future illegal coordination. New York will receive 4,968,000 eggs, all of which will be distributed through Feeding New York, the statewide network overseeing New York's food banks. To date more than 1.4 million eggs have been distributed so far to food banks in Brooklyn, Rochester, Syracuse, the Southern Tier, the Bronx, and Westchester County. Deliveries statewide will continue through October.

"Corporations that hike up food prices and make Western New York families pay more for groceries must be held accountable, and that's exactly what Attorney General James is doing," said Congressman Tim Kennedy. "Thanks to her steadfast leadership, the Western New Yorkers who count on FeedMore WNY will have an increased supply of another healthy, nutritious food option. I'm grateful to Attorney General James for standing up for New York consumers, and I know she won't stop fighting against illegal price-fixing schemes like this one."

"Consumers stood by helplessly as egg prices rose in recent years, wondering why the cost was increasing so much but powerless to stop it," said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. "Blame was wrongly cast on the Biden administration for somehow allowing this to happen when it turns out that it was old-fashioned corporate greed and price fixing all along, with egg producers illegally manipulating the market to enrich themselves while gouging egg-eating Americans. "However, their dark deeds have been dragged into the light by Attorney General James and her colleague Attorneys General and as a result eggs will be coming to food banks throughout New York state and sixteen other states and the conspirators will pay a $3.3 million penalty as well. I thank Attorney General James for stopping this illegal price fixing and working to protect New Yorkers."

"At a time when working families are already facing higher costs, needlessly driving up the price of basic necessities places an unfair burden on household budgets," said Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan. "I applaud Attorney General James for holding these companies accountable and turning this settlement into meaningful support for families across Western New York through FeedMore WNY."

"I thank Attorney General James for holding these companies accountable," said Senator April N.M. Baskin. "This is what justice looks like. With too many families across Western New York struggling to put food on the table, I was proud to fight to secure $24 million in the state budget for FeedMore Western New York. As state leaders, we must continue investing in organizations like FeedMore that keep our communities fed and ensure every resident has access to one of our most basic human rights: food on their tables."

"At a time when our families can barely afford groceries, they should not be forced to pay more because corporations rigged the market," said Senator Jeremy Zellner. "Our families are working too hard to have their hard-earned money taken from them by companies that put profits over people. I thank Attorney General James for standing up for New Yorkers and holding these companies accountable. If you cheat families at the checkout counter, you should be held responsible."

"At a time when it seems like everything is rising in cost, we are grateful for our Attorney General, Letitia James, for investigating this years-long price-fixing scheme regarding egg prices," said Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. "We also thank FeedMore Western New York for partnering to distribute eggs to families across Western New York."

"Attorney General James is standing up for consumers and holding companies accountable when they manipulate the price of basic necessities," said Assemblymember Pat Burke. "Western New York families will see a real benefit from this settlement and these 140,000 eggs will make a real difference for FeedMore WNY and the families they serve."

"Working families have increasingly felt the strain of rising grocery prices, and no one should be forced to pay more for basic necessities because large corporations choose to manipulate the market," said Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera. "I commend Attorney General James for holding these companies accountable and securing meaningful relief for New Yorkers. The delivery of more than 140,000 eggs to FeedMore Western New York will help put healthy food on the tables of families across our region, while sending a clear message that corporate price-fixing will not be tolerated. At a time when too many households are struggling to make ends meet, this win delivers accountability and direct support to the people who need it most."

Joining Attorney General James and DOJ in securing this settlement were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

For New York, this matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Isabella Pitt and James Yoon, Senior Enforcement Counsel Michael D. Schwartz, and Legal Fellow Amanda McBain of the Antitrust Bureau, and with the assistance of Assistant Attorney General John P. Figura of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Elinor R. Hoffmann and Deputy Bureau Chief Amy McFarlane. The Antitrust Bureau is part of the Division of Economic Justice, overseen by Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher D'Angelo and First Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux.