Featured image: Texas crop progress, photo courtesy of David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, and grower Nowell Borders Farms in Edinburg, TX
MARKET
Tampico, Mexico/Texas Rio Grande Valley:
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said on April 3 everything is moving along at a good pace, with Tampico finishing in the next several days and whites starting to come in out of Torreón at the same time. “It should be pretty seamless with the good whites out of Mexico,” he said. Texas is ‘rollin’ along with reds and yellows,” he said, adding that quality and size are good.
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, reported in on April 3 to tell us the Tampico deal is coming to a close. “Tampico winding up this weekend,” he said. The Rio Grande Valley is off to the races, and David said, “Texas is starting all colors this weekend as well. So far there’s very brisk business and good transportation availability. Crops are generally very healthy.” Our thanks to David and grower Nowell Borders Farms in Edinburg, TX, for the great photos.
Sonora, Mexico:
James Johnson with Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus, NM, told us on April 3 the organics out of Mexico are moving well. He said, “We’ve been shipping organic and conventional whites out of Sonora for a week, will have reds Friday and yellows mid-week next week.”
Idaho/Oregon/Washington/Texas/Mexico:
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms in Salem, OR, told us on April 3, saying, “Demand is typical coming off a big holiday. It’s been a little slow. It was a big rush prior to the Easter holiday. Everyone wanted to get all the onions they could so they wouldn’t have to worry when they were back on the desks.” John continued. “The big holidays are always this way. The only difference this last year was between Christmas and New Year’s. It really never slowed down at all.” On the market, John said it’s steady. “The market isn’t as strong as last week, but it’s still steady. I have to hand it to those Texas guys… they are good marketers, that’s for sure. We are shipping out of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Mexico through Texas, and when California gets going, there will be enough onions to go around. Sounds like most California shippers will get going around April 22. There will be a few starting a little earlier, but the volume probably won’t get going until then. You also have Vidalia coming in, and New Zealand has a longer trip, but in some capacity, they’re landing. It’s hard to say where the market will be later on, but it’s holding steady. I have to tell you, there is good quality out of all the areas we’re selling, and that’s great!” On the transportation, John said, “When the truck broker calls continue to ramp up, you know what that means? It’s EASY!”
Rick Greener with Greener Produce provided his report on April 3. “We are shipping out of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Washington, Texas, and Mexico,“ Rick said. “It’s about a 50/50 mix between the Northwest and the southern regions. It all depends on the customer. You know, when you decide to go south, you generally can’t go back, so some customers hang on to the Northwest sheds. I don’t blame them. The onion quality north and south has been very good, no matter where you’re pulling from. Much of it has to do with the lanes and the geography, too.” Rick commented on demand: “Demand this week just depends on what fishing hole you’re fishing out of. Some are biting, and some are sitting on the bottom, waiting to see what happens with the market. Some Northwest sheds are doing some clean-up of their floors so that you might have a spot buy here and there, but not enough to impact the market negatively.” Rick said. On freight, Rick said, “Still good. Now, don’t forget your pearls, shallots, and Cipollinis! Come get ‘em!”
Idaho-E. Oregon/Texas:
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, told us on April 3, “Well, we’re still going out of Nyssa shed, and quality is good,” Jason said. “We’re shipping mostly program business on yellows and reds and should be going for another couple of weeks. Our Texas program is going. We have all colors and sizes, but reds are tight.” Jason continued, “The market is holding steady, and because the red availability is so tight, the red market should be up, and we may see an increase there.” On transportation, Jason said, “Transportation is the same. Getting trucks is good for us.”
Idaho-E. Oregon
Paul Reeping with Riverfront Produce in Payette, Idaho, reported on April 3, saying, “Demand is pretty typical for this time of year. We are taking take of our program business, but we still have open onions available, and the quality remains very good. We are getting low on reds but moving all colors on yellows.” Paul commented on the market. “The market is holding steady and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a bump up on reds.” When asked about a finish date, Paul said, “Right now, we can’t put a date to it. We’ll just have to see how this month and later goes for us.” Then, on transportation, Paul said, “It’s good, and it’s been good for quite some time.”
CROP
Mexico/New Mexico:
James Johnson with Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus, NM, said on April 3 that his Chihuahua and New Mexico crops are progressing well. James said, “We should have south Chihuahua crop in three to four weeks. North Chihuahua and the New Mexico crop look great, and it looks like we might be a little earlier this year. I would say May 15 start for New Mexico is likely.”
Colorado Western Slope:
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, told us on April 3 his Colorado growers are in the fields. “The Western slope is planting at a normal pace on normal number acres,” he said. Traditionally the Western Slope harvests around Labor Day and runs through the end of the calendar year.
California:
Jason Pearson, with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, told us on April 3, “California is looking great, and we’re all set to start rockin’ and rollin’ with yellows the week of the 22nd and reds and whites the following week.”
