WASHINGTON:
Bob Meek of Utah Onions took time at the NOA Convention to meet with us and said that company’s Washington deal in the Prosser area will kick off the week of July 18. “The crop looks good,” he said.
John Harris of Paradigm Fresh in Fort Collins and Denver is in Niagara Falls for the NOA Convention and told us he’ll be working Washington spring-seeded onions starting July 18 with yellows and some reds. “Quality looks good and there’s very good volume,” John said.
IDAHO-E. OREGON
Ashley Robertson with Fort Boise Produce in Parma, ID, is also at NOA this week and told us the Treasure Valley crop is looking good. “Some stands are better than others,” she said, adding that Fort Boise will start shipping mid-August with yellows and will move into all colors very quickly.
Another NOA attendee from the Treasure Valley is Kimi Fitch of Jamieson Produce, Inc. in Vale, OR. Kimi said Jamieson will start with transplants in late July, and she said, “The crop is looking very, very good.” Seeded onions will start in early to mid-August, she said.
NOA attendee, Tom Corbett of Symms Fruit Ranch, Inc. reported that their crop is doing well and noted that Symms does not start onion shipping until the fall after their fruit productions is complete.
Chris Woo with Potandon/Murakami Produce in Ontario, OR, spoke to us from his Oregon office and said the Treasure Valley was fortunate to get rain showers over the last several days. Chris said, “Rains at this time of year make for bigger onions and more overall tonnage, which is fantastic for us.” Transplants will start July 18, and the seeded crop will begin the first week of August.
COLORADO:
John Harris of Paradigm Fresh told us the Northern Colorado onion crop is coming along nicely. Normal harvest for the area is late July, with fresh market onions shipping soon after. “The weather has been good so far, and the important thing is what happens between now and harvest,” John said.
WISCONSIN:
Doug Bulgrin of Gumz Farms in Endeavor, WI, is also in New York for the NOA Convention. The organization’s 2nd Vice President said his operation is about five weeks from harvest, and he noted the size profile this year is slightly larger than average. “We’ll start shipping with yellows and reds, and we’re seeing very good quality,” he said.
NEW YORK:
Longtime Elba, NY, onion industry member Mark Rowcliffe told OnionBusiness.com at the NOA Convention on July 13 that the Elba area will start harvesting transplants on July 18. Mark said the region has had some heat issues, “more than normal,” but he also said overall the onions look very good and fresh shipments will kick off the season next week. OnionBusiness.com will take part in the NOA tour during the convention, and next week we’ll bring you photos from that area, along with some up-to-the-minute news.
