Featured image: Chris Woo with Owyhee Produce on location in the Imperial Valley checking on the new crop
MARKET
Washington:
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms provided his Washington report from the Imperial Valley this week as he waits for the Troy Caston Farms startup. “We’re not quite ready in the desert, so I am still moving onions out of Washington this week,” John said. “It’s a typical week after Easter, which makes demand not so great, but we are shipping all colors out of Washington. But we’ll wrap out there probably by the end of this week.” He added, “The market has been steady, with a few clean-up deals, but the Northwest is finishing up quickly so I do foresee a bump in the market coming as these storage areas clean up. We also don’t really know what kind of volume we are going to end up seeing coming out of Texas, and that could help the market too, but we really have no way of knowing until we get there. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Imperial Valley:
Chris Woo with Owyhee Produce in Nyssa, OR, and Parma, ID, has been in the Imperial Valley and filed this report on April 19, starting with an explanation of a massive steak on a plate. “After a hard day out in El Centro country, it’s time to cook your own beef at Alamorio Store in Brawley,” he said. Chris said he’ll be procuring onions from sheds in the area “for our fine customer base,” and he added, “What I’ve seen so far acreage is off a tad, yields are more than adequate with good sizing and seed stem throw out not a factor yet.” He said, “It’s the best crop start-up with attractive pricing I’ve seen since I’ve been coming down. All of the packing sheds will be starting up for sure by beginning of next week.” Our thanks to Chris for the great photo!
Texas and California:
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce reported from his Nyssa, OR, sales office on April 20. “I am pretty much swamped this week,” Jason said. “We are moving onions out of Texas and California, and buyers are ordering all colors and sizes. Last night, Texas received some rain, so supplies are a little tight there, but overall we have been very busy.” He continued, “The market has been steady too. Now, I do want to mention if we would all stick to buying American onions, the market could be stronger, but it is steady, and we just need to hold the market because the demand is there.” On quality, Jason said it’s been good. “Of course, these are ‘fresh’ onions so they come in the door and go out,” Jason said. “So they are the freshest you’re going to get. So far, we haven’t had any issues, knock on wood.” Jason said Eagle Eye has had a pretty easy time getting trucks. “Trucks have been easy to find, but prices are still high and I don’t see that changing any time soon.”
Idaho:
Rick Greener with Greener Produce in Ketchum said the Northwest is all but finished up. “I can still get some Washington storage onions for those customers that want them,” Rick said, “But Idaho is finished, and Oregon is all but done. I am shipping some storage stuff out of North Dakota, but primarily it’s new crop onions coming out of Mexico, Texas, and now California.” He continued, “Quality has been on par with spring/summer variety onions, but demand has been good this week, and we expect to see more onions and color options available out of Cali about mid-week next week.” On the market, Rick said it’s strong. “The market is doing really well right now… strong and steady,” he said. Regarding transportation, Rick said that getting trucks is hit and miss. “We have a fairly good time getting trucks and rates have come off some. We are finding that we’re paying as much for flatbeds as we are for reefers, so make note on that.” Rick also noted that his operation is selling other onion varieties. “If buyers are interested, we have some nice shallots, pearls and cippolinis coming out of Southern Idaho.”
S. Texas:
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco said on April 20, “We’re running wide open, and I expect we’ll finish up Texas mostly by the end of next week except for a couple of fields.” He’s shipping all colors and all sizes out of Texas, and Don Ed said onions out of Chihuahua are still about a week away.
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen said on April 20 the Rio Grande Valley deal continues to move along, and he said, “As a group, we’re leaving 15-20 percent in the field with seed stems.” David said Tampico is “on the backside,” noting, “There are fewer supplies. Demand is very good, and the market is stronger.” David also said the Eagle Pass deal will kick off this weekend or Monday with whites. “Yellows will start a week after that, and reds the week after that.”
Vidalia:
Walt Dasher and G&R Farms in Glennville reported on April 20, “Vidalia onion harvest has finally started! All of the planning and preparation for a perfectly timed harvest has paid off. This month’s crop report gives insight into how we pull and tan the onions in preparation for harvest. After seven days they are harvested with each and every onion harvested by hand. These onions are ready to ship and ready to eat. Enjoy them while you can!” Our thanks to G&R for the YouTube line and video,
CROP
Imperial Valley:
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms provided his report from the Imperial Valley on April 20. “We thought we would start up this week at Troy Caston’s place, but the onions just weren’t ready,” John said. “That’s been the case with some other growers here too. We are bringing in onions and letting them cure, but we didn’t want any days of having a gap, so we are set for next Wednesday to start. The crew and the equipment are ramped up and when we do get started, we’ll be rockin’ and rollin’. We’ll start with yellows. Then five days later we’ll add reds, and whites will follow.”
Walla Walla:
Michael Locati with Locati Farms and Pacific Agra Farms told us on April 20 the Walla Walla crop is coming along well, and the season could start during the first couple of weeks of June. “The crop looks really good. All transplants are in, and we’re watering fall-seeded now.” Michael said acreage remains stable this year, and he added his Rosé Walla Walla crop might be up slightly.
