The Symbol of Easter: Eggs
What is Easter?
Easter is an important religious holiday celebrated in Christianity to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after being crucified. Easter is also associated with the beginning of spring and the theme of renewal.
Easter customs include a variety of traditional figures such as Easter eggs, chocolate figures, and Easter bunny. These items are common, especially in Western countries. Easter eggs are often painted and events such as egg hunting are held for children. These customs, in addition to the religious aspect of Easter, ensure that it is time to gather and celebrate for families and communities.
Unfortunately, things are not going well this year. Both the increase in cocoa prices due to climatic reasons, as well as the decrease in egg supply due to bird flu and increased production costs increased the price of 2 key figures.
Easter Egg
Swedish Eggs in Norway
The shortage of eggs in stores due to Easter caused Norwegians to flock to supermarkets on the Swedish border.
In Sweden, 20 eggs are sold at a price equivalent to a package of 39.90 Norwegian kroner ($3.70), which is about 30% lower than the price in Norway.
Egg
Eggs are a food item with a high nutritional value and widely consumed throughout the world. Eggs rich in protein, vitamins (especially B12 and D) and minerals (iron, zinc) are an important part of a healthy diet. In particular, it is noted for its high-quality protein content. The protein content of the egg is found in a form that can be easily used by the human body, making it an ideal food source for athletes and those who care about health.
The world egg trade has shown growth in recent years with increasing global population and developing dietary habits. China, the United States and India are among the countries that produce the most eggs worldwide. Eggs are important both in the domestic market and in international trade. In particular, rapid population growth and economic developments in the Asia-Pacific region have increased egg demand and expanded its share of global trade.
Egg Import Potential Top 10 Countries
Turkey is an important player in egg production and exports. The country's egg exports are aimed at Middle East and African countries in particular. Turkey's strategic position is seen as one of the main factors supporting egg exports. In recent years, the Turkish egg sector has been working to improve quality standards, providing access to wider markets. Turkey's egg exports are an important source of income for the country's agricultural sector and a contributing factor to the balance of foreign trade. This export also increases Turkey's competitiveness in the global food market.
As Easter approaches, egg prices reach the highest levels in many parts of the world. It is also fueled by market contraction due to bird flu, increased demand, and rising costs for farmers.
The future of the world egg trade will continue to be shaped by emerging markets and new technologies. Sustainable agricultural practices, efforts to reduce environmental impact, and focus on food safety are among the ways this sector will follow in the coming years. Global trade policies and economic trends are also emerging as factors that will affect developments in this area.
Kakao
On the New York Stock Exchange, the price of cocoa in the futures market reached an all-time high of US$9600 per ton.
World Cocoa Production Drops
This is caused by climatic changes. As production declined due to heavy rains, field dust, and strong winds, the cocoa supply of Ivory Coast and Ghana, the 2 largest supplier countries, decreased by 8%. In addition, cost increases, the main cause of the worldwide food crisis, also hit cocoa producers. Cacao factories could not afford the costs, so their decision to cut or stop production was another factor that triggered the price increase. In alternative countries, Nigeria and Ghana, the harvest falls short of expectations.
Additional Information: How to Prepare an Easter Egg
Preparing an Easter egg is both a fun and creative process. Here is a step-by-step guide:
1. Egg Preparation:
– Put the eggs in a pot with cold water, cook on high fire until the water boils.
– After boiling, boil the eggs for another 9-12 minutes.
Remove from the water and cool the eggs. Be patient :)
2. Paint Preparation:
You can use industrial food dyes or make natural dyes at home. For example, red cabbage leaves give blue, onion shells orange and beet red colors.
– For natural dyes, boil the ingredients of your choice in a pot with water, then strain and add some vinegar.
The Most Enjoyable Part: Egg Painting
3. Paint Eggs:
– Make sure they are completely dry before painting the eggs.
– Dip the eggs in the paint and wait until you get the color you want. Wait longer for darker colors.
– Remove the eggs from the paint and leave them to dry for a while. Be patient :)
4. Patterns and Ornaments:
– After you paint the eggs, you can draw various patterns on them. You can use a thin brush or marker.
– You can also decorate the eggs with scales, sticky ornaments, sparkles, or similar.
5. Protection and Retention:
– Make sure they are completely dry before displaying your painted eggs. Be patient :)
If you don't want to display the eggs, keep them in the refrigerator. Cooked eggs can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week.
You can prepare colorful and special eggs for Easter with these steps :)
Sources:
– https://www.ticaret.gov.tr
– https://www.sbb.gov.tr
– https://www.trademap.org
– https://www.fao.org/3/cc8166en/online/cc8166en.html
– https://apnews.com/article/norway-sweden-easter-eggs-3ab5196ac8f160db210a7c1003bbf153
– https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/kakao-fiyatlari-arz-endiseleriyle-3-ayda-iki-katina-cikti/3174961
