Attorney General Phil Weiser announces settlement with large egg producers after uncovering illegal scheme to jack up prices

June 30, 2026 (DENVER) – Attorney General Phil Weiser today secured 53 million eggs for consumers nationwide and $3.3 million from some of the nation’s largest egg producers for colluding behind the scenes for nearly three years to raise prices.

A bipartisan multistate investigation with the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum, and Hickman’s Egg Ranch illegally coordinated for years to influence a daily price index for eggs, which artificially increased prices for retailers and consumers throughout the country.

Cal-Maine ships its eggs to Colorado, which are sold under multiple brands, including Eggland’s Best, Land O’ Lakes, Farmhouse Eggs, Sunups, and Sunny Meadow. Versova Management Cooperative is an agricultural cooperative that includes Morning Fresh Farms in Platteville. Morning Fresh Farms’ eggs are sold under their own label and under the First Light, Rocky Mountain, Eggland’s Best, Land O’ Lakes, and Farmhouse brands. Hickman’s Egg Ranch, Inc., produces eggs in Grand Junction and Fort Lupton, and has a distribution center in Aurora. Hickman’s sells eggs under its own label.

Attorney General Weiser said approximately 2,023,468 eggs will be delivered directly to food banks and community organizations serving Colorado, and the state is expected to receive $125,000 in settlement funds.

“For the last few years, Coloradans have been struggling with higher grocery prices and wondering why food costs are so stubbornly high. Our investigation in this case uncovered illegal activity by large egg producers to collude and artificially increase egg prices for consumers and businesses. This deliberate corporate manipulation of egg prices for profit is illegal and immoral and we’re putting a stop to it. We’re committed to fighting for consumers against corporate abuses,” Attorney General Weiser said.

The coalition’s investigation found that from approximately June 2022 to March 2025, the egg producers secretly communicated with each other to coordinate their bidding activity and influence the daily egg price quotes published by Urner Barry, a benchmark pricing service widely used in egg supply contracts. For example, in December 2022, Hickman’s CEO emailed Versova and Cal-Maine executives urging them to submit “strong bids, early and often” to push prices higher. All three companies then submitted dozens of bids at higher prices, which led to Urner Barry increasing its price quotes. By manipulating the Urner Barry benchmark, the companies artificially inflated the price of eggs paid by retailers and consumers across the nation.

Under the settlement, all three companies must end their illegal coordination to manipulate prices, adopt compliance measures to prevent future violations, and fully cooperate with oversight by the states. The companies must designate antitrust compliance officers who will monitor violations of the settlement and report violations to the states and Justice Department. The 53 million donated eggs will be provided at the companies’ expense to food banks and nonprofit organizations across the participating states and must meet all food safety and regulatory standards. The companies will also pay a combined $3.3 million to the states.

Joining Attorney General Weiser and the Justice Department in securing this settlement are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawai‘i, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Read the complaint (PDF).

Read the stipulation and order for Cal-Maine Foods (PDF).

Read the stipulation and order for Versova (PDF).

Read the stipulation and order for Hickman’s Egg Ranch (PDF).

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