Featured image: Colorado-Western Slope crop progress on August 1, 2024, photo courtesy of David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX
MARKET
Five Points, California:
Mike Smythe provided his report for Telesis Onion on August 7. “Telesis Onion will finish packing reds and whites tomorrow for the season,” he said. “We should finish yellows next Wednesday. This season, I believe we had one of the hottest summers on record. We are still 100+ degree days thru this Sunday.” Mike continued, “I believe we had close to 45 days straight on 100+ degree weather, and we had one of the best shipping quality onion in many years. We appreciate all the business this season, we wish the Pacific NW shippers have a good season.”
Bronx, NY:
Lou Getzelman with Canyon Sales Co. on the Hunts Point Market told us on August 7, “The market seems to be in good shape with demand holding up well,” Lou said. “There really hasn’t been much change in price on reds and yellows even with the transitions, and there aren’t as many reds as yellows around just yet. We are shipping onions from all over the country; California, Washington, New Mexico, and the northeast is underway with New York and Canada going. Despite the intense heat California had, our shippers were still able to pack a great bag of onions.” He continued, “New York jumbo yellows have started out a little slow, but we expect that to change next week. There’s also some weather this week here making it difficult to harvest. Idaho is right around the corner and we’re hearing that there will be some arrivals in the market soon. There certainly seems to be an ample supply of onions around, but it does look like most have a good marketing plan in place. It doesn’t feel like there’s an oversupply of onions in the NY terminal.” On transportation, Lou said, “Trucks are very easy to find and relatively inexpensive.”
Walla Walla:
Michael Locati with Locati Farms and Pacific Agra Farms said on Aug. 7 that next week crews will be wrapping up harvest. “We should ship through august. He said of the shed, “We’re starting to receive Northwest new crop which we will pack and transition customers out of our Walla Walla deal and into a Northwest sweets,” Michael said. “We appreciate all the support throughout the season. There are always lessons learned, but we’re thankful for quality product and fair pricing for our growers.” And, he added, “We are already planning for planting 2025 Walla Walla Sweet Onions starting September.”
Idaho/Washington/California/New Mexico/Mexico (through Texas)/Spain
Rick Greener with Greener Produce in Ketchum, ID provided his report on August 7 saying, “I think this is the best transition I have ever seen,“ Rick said. “It looks like California has a couple more weeks and these last onions look great with really nice skin set. The Northwest onions that are shipping have good quality on these early onions. It’s just been a good, smooth transition so far. Buyers are looking for a bit of everything from colossal on down. We’re shipping out of Idaho, Washington, California, New Mexico, Mexico through Texas, and we are still working the Spain program for East Coast customers. Some buyers have made the complete switch to the Northwest and some are still working on the summer regions and have yet to make the move.” On the market, Rick commented, “I think this might be the first August I have seen the market stable for the most part. With the exception of whites, They’re all over the place, but everything else is stable and that’s great! Freight’s good too. It’s been easy.” He concluded his report saying, “Remember, we have boilers, Cipollinis, and pearls, so come and get ‘em!”
New Mexico, California, Washington, Hermiston, OR:
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms in Salem, OR, told us on August 7, saying, “Demand has been pretty good this week,” John said, “I know people say that August has the dog days of summer, but demand is good and it looks like we’ll have a smooth transition. We are shipping out of New Mexico, California, and the Northwest. I would say that most of the onions are coming out of Washington now. Our California shipper will finish next week and customers are starting to transition over. Washington is shipping all sizes and colors and I haven’t had any problems with quality.” John continued on the market, “The market is holding overall. Whites are still up there. Jumbo yellows are still in double digits, and reds are too. It’s looking very good.” And on transportation, John said, “As I’ve said before when I am getting countless truck broker calls daily, transportation must be okay.”
New Mexico/Mexico:
James Johnson with Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus, NM, told us on Aug. 7 his Mexico season has finished, and New Mexico is about three-quarters done. “Chihuahua has wrapped up,” James said. He added, “We still have a few weeks to go with New Mexico crop.” He said Mother Nature has cooperated this year. “The weather has so far been kind to us.” Carzalia Valley is in its third year of using the LaserWeeder from Carbon Robotics, and James said the equipment is “working great!” A single machine accomplishes what 50-60 hand weeders do, he said.
CROP
Colorado Western Slope:
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, told us on Aug. 7, “We just visited the Delta. CO, production area last week. We covered a lot of the area and saw what I think could be an above-average crop in terms of yield and bulb size.” David added, “I expect a Labor Day start or soon thereafter. Weather has been fairly ideal and disease pressure very low. I anticipate that we will have all three colors probably within a few days of start-up.” Our thanks to David for our featured images of Colorado Western Slope onions!
Bakersfield, CA
Many thanks to Megan Jacobsen with Gills Onions in Oxnard, CA for sending great “Farm to Table” video clips showing Rio Farms July 18 onion harvest in Bakersfield, CA and IFPA Foodservice Church Bros. Party.
