Featured image: Instagram photo of onions from Gumz Farms located in Endeavor, WI
MARKET
Wisconsin:
Doug Bulgrin with Gumz Farms in Endeavor provided his report on October 30. “Demand has been steady for us this week,” Doug said. “Buyers are taking all colors and medium yellows are doing really well. The market is steady as well. We’re seeing a little increase. Customers are starting to put their holiday ads together and we are encouraged by that. Quality continues to be excellent.” Doug also commented on transportation. “We are in a good place on transportation,” Doug said. “We’re fortunate to have a company that handles our transportation needs and things are running smoothly.”
Organic Onions:
Brad Sumner with Pacific Coast Trading Co. in Portland provided his report on October 30. “Steady supply, steady demand in the organic onion world this week,” Brad said. “No big price jumps or quality issues in any of the states packing organics that I have heard of. Our Ca crop is still coming into the barn but should be finished this week. WA is putting out some very good-looking High-Quality OG onions right now. With everything tucked in, we will be getting an idea of storage volumes and shipping length into next year. So far and as per usual, US storage crop whites will go into January. (With a few sheds going longer).” He continued, “Reds are a late February/Early March timeline and yellows will continue to ship through April. This of course is if markets and quality remain the same. There seems to be extra Organic white onions on the market right now as I have had more offered to me than in prior years. Presently, buyers of organic onions have several outlets to choose from, so relationships, service, and quality are of high importance to keeping your program together.” Brad ended his report with, “Happy Halloween Y’all!”
Idaho-E. Oregon
Chris Woo reported to us on October 30, saying, “Onion harvest went very well this season,” Chris said. “Weather cooperated from start to finish with it being cool and dry. Onions put away in great shape best I’ve seen in years past.” He added, “Now is a good time to promote turkey day specials with our reasonable price structure, adequate sizing, and abundant quality. As usual, sheds are busy this week with Halloween business and World Series food service pull. Trick or treat!”
Washington
Hayden Bingham with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, told us on October 30, “We are completely done with our programs in Rocky Ford, CO, and Ulysses, KS,” Hayden said. “We continue to ship all colors out of Warden, WA. This week, demand is a little sluggish. Though we have seen an uptick of white and yellow shipments to Mexico, demand has dropped some. It could be as a result of the current recall situation. We’re just waiting for the dust to settle, and things to get back to normal.” Hayden continued on the market. “The white market continues to be hot,” Hayden said. “Reds are hot too and have been all year. The onion quality has been great, and we anticipate a market increase on all three colors as we approach the holidays.” Hayden also commented on freight this week. “With the change in weather, freight is starting to get tricky. Right now, we can still load some flatbeds, but that’s due to change here in the next couple of weeks. When we switch over to all reefers, availability will tighten, and pricing will increase too.”
Idaho/Oregon/Utah/Michigan/North Dakota:
Rick Greener with Greener Produce in Ketchum, ID provided his report on October 30. “Last Thursday and Friday we had good traction,” Rick said. “It’s been a little quiet the first part of this week. We continue to ship out of Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Michigan, and North Dakota and all areas have had great crops this season. The onion quality is great!” On the market, Rick said, “Watch the white market. It’s on the way up. Reds are holding strong and yellows are holding and could see some strength as we head into the holiday season. Exports are still going for Mexico, Canada, and Taiwan, and as long as this goes on, that is going to put pressure on the market.” On transportation, Rick said, “Freight’s going good right now, but here in a couple of weeks, we expect the weather will start making delivered pricing higher moving to all reefers. You can risk loading flatbeds, but when the weather turns, it’s a gamble.” Rick also gave a familiar reminder, “Don’t forget, we have boilers, Cipollinis, and pearls, so come and get ‘em!” Rick ended his report with, “Next Tuesday is important folks. Voting for your growers, your teams, and your communities is imperative. The industry needs a positive outcome.”
Colorado Western Slope:
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, told us on October 30 that all sizes and colors continue to ship out of Colorado’s Western Slope. “It should stay that way into December or early January,” David said. He noted that transportation has remained easy.
Colorado Western Slope/Corinne, UT:
Chuck Hill with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said on October 30 that Corinne, UT, got started earlier this week and is shipping light volume to start. “Colorado is going good with all colors and sizes. They’re expecting some snow that might slow us down a little. Transportation tightened up just a bit this week.” He added that the market is a bit slower than last week.
Bronx, NY:
Lou Getzelman with Canyon Sales Co. on the Hunts Point Market told us on October 30, “We’re starting to see some strength in the market,” Lou said. “I believe that we have seen the bottom now and better days are ahead. The jumbo yellow market has responded this week and receivers are starting to push it a little higher. We’re also going to see a pretty big jump in reds for Sunday night’s business and whites have continued to gain strength. It’s been kind of a flat week for demand, but next week we hope to see another pick up in the action before the holiday push.” He continued, “While domestic business in the terminal hasn’t been great, export business has been good, and that has helped push some of these prices higher. Maybe some positive election news next week will help with domestic business.” On transportation, Lou said, “Transportation remains adequate, weather has been mild and we’re still able to load flatbeds coming back east.”
CROP
S. Texas/Mexico:
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, said planting in both South Texas and the Tampico region of Mexico continues “as weather allows.”
Chuck Hill with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said on October 30, “Texas is about a week away from finishing planting, and Mexico is also close to finishing. “Weather has been good, and there’s water right now,” Chuck said.
