Featured image: Texas crop progress, photo courtesy of Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce
MARKET
Mexico:
Mike Davis with Tex-Mex Sales, LLC in Weslaco, TX, told us on February 21. “We have had a few whites come across, but it now looks like a week from Monday before we’ll be shipping any yellows,” Mike said. “Mexico’s high market has kept yellows in-country, so they need to have more volume before coming into the US.”
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, told us on February 21 that he expects to see loads out of Mexico during March as growers get into their larger fields. “The Mexican crop was light on the front end due to water issues and late planting there. There weren’t many onions to begin with,” he said. “So, there have been no Mexican onions here in February. But that will change in Mach as they get into their larger plantings and as that Mexican market is satisfied.” The volume from Mexico will likely coincide with the new Texas crop coming on, and Don Ed said in a normal year he would be concerned about an overlap with the early Texas onions. “But I think the pent-up demand in this country will absorb Mexico and Texas coming together. Most of the competing area this year are not too much of a factor.”
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, said on February 21 that he’s not expecting any onions out of Mexico until “the market in the U.S. gives a better financial return” than the Mexican market. And that, he said, could happen in late March.
Idaho-E. Oregon/Washington:
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, told us on February 21, “Demand is steady for us this week,” Jason said, “Buyers are looking for primarily yellow and red in jumbo sizes. Reds have gotten tighter as Canada is starting to pull from US sources.” Jason commented on the market. “The market is strong, and holding, but it hasn’t really gone anywhere for about the last week. We are looking at a mid-April finish with our Northwest onions, but we will already be in our Texas program so the transition will go well.” On transportation, Jason said, “Transportation is status quo. If you want a truck, they are out there.”
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms in Salem, OR, told us on February 21, saying, “We are shipping out of Washington and Oregon, and demand is steady. The week started out so-so. It’s stepped up a bit, but it’s not crazy. Pretty typical for this time of year. Also, you have to remember it’s only a four-day week for some people, so that may affect demand, but it’s still decent. Quotes are coming in from Mexico, but it’s just a trickle. So we still don’t really know when Mexico will come with any volume, but it’s safe to say it will happen sometime.” On the market, John said, “The market is solid, and it looks like it may be leveling off. It’s a twisted situation with Mexico delayed and buyers trying to gauge what will happen over the next several weeks. We just have to wait and see. Quality is just fine coming out of the Northwest. So for now, we’re just doing our normal thing and getting our orders in and out the door.”
Idaho/Washington/Oregon/Utah:
Rick Greener with Greener Produce provided his report on February 21. “We are shipping out of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah,“ Rick said. “We are plugging right along, and demand has been steady. Any Mexican product crossing seems to be all committed, so there isn’t any volume to speak of.” On the market, Rick said, “Overall, the market is strong, but reds are tight, and it is baffling why the red market isn’t sky-high. Depending on who you are talking to, is how the market is going. There are some spot buys out there, but you need to be careful about those. Quality can be like a new crop summer onions; “some” are great, and “some” aren’t so great,” Rick laughed. “Seriously, it’s time to keep those suspenders pulled up. If 99.9% of the Mexican onions coming across now are already committed, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit. We’ll just have to wait and see when the volume starts moving. The strong Mexican market sure doesn’t make bringing them over now too attractive. Again, suspenders up!” Finally, Rick commented on freight, saying, “Boy, freight’s been easy. If you need help in that regard, call us.”
CROP
Texas Rio Grande Valley:
Mike Davis with Tex-Mex Sales, LLC in Weslaco, TX, told us on February 21, “The crop coming along well, and we’ll start out with our Texas 1015’s the first of March and be going with the rest of around March 11,” Mike said. “We expect to have a great crop coming out of Texas this year.”
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco said on February 21 warmer temperatures were trending in the Rio Grande Valley. “We finally got some warmer weather, and the onions are looking good,” he said it hadn’t been exceptionally cold, but the area had had an extended cooler-than-normal period. “I think we’ll see some onions harvested around March 15,” Don Ed said.
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen said his RGV crop is growing well, and he is looking at a late March harvest. “It’s looking good,” he said.
Texas/California:
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, told us on February 21, “The Texas crop looks good and we’ll start up with flats the second week of March and get going with rounds during the third week of March” Jason said. “Looks like our California deal should get rolling the last week in April.” Many thanks to Jason for sending recent photos of both Texas and California crops. Click images to enlarge and scroll.
Texas Photos:
California Photos:
