Iowa has further cemented its lead as the nation’s number-one egg producer. New figures show a record eight-point-seven billion eggs were produced in the state last year, an increase from seven-and-a-half billion a year before. Holly Sorgee, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Egg Council, says only two states are close — Ohio with seven-point-nine billion and Pennsylvania with six-point-six billion. Sorgee says there are 80 egg producers in Iowa with about 30-thousand laying hens. Sorgee says Iowans and Americans are eating more eggs. Over the last 10 years she says per-capita consumption has increased by about 10 eggs per person.Last year, the average U-S consumer ate 260 eggs. The number was 233 a decade before. Sorgee says the egg’s reputation has changed in recent years, from the cholesterol scare in the 70s to new information that says an egg a day is okay.Medical reports link eggs to improved vision and memory retention. Iowa is also number-one in the nation in the production of corn, pork and soybeans.
