Featured image: Imperial Valley Conventional Onion Crop Progress, photos courtesy of Mike Smythe with West Valley Packing
MARKET
Mexico/Texas Rio Grande Valley:
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said on February 28 he’ll start shipping Tampico yellows on Monday, March 4. “We’ll start with the yellows, and the reds will come in the week after that. Then whites will start the week after that.” Don Ed said his Texas Rio Grande Valley season will kick off on March 18 with yellows, followed by his reds. “Everything is looking good. The weather has been warmer, and the timing looks like it’s going to work out well,” he said.
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, said on February 28 he’s yet to see onions from his Tampico growers. “There’s still no product crossing from Mexico,” he said. “The market in Mexico is still higher than it is in Texas.” David added that his Rio Grande Valley crop is coming along well, and he noted, “I’m pretty confident that we will start Texas around March 21 with all three colors.”
Idaho-E. Oregon
Steve Baker with Baker & Murakami Produce in Ontario, OR, told us on February 28 saying, “Demand this week has been similar to the past few weeks! We basically have been servicing the same customers week after week.” Steve added, “We have had a nice mix of all sizes to sell this week on yellows & reds. The market has stayed steady this week on all sizes and colors. There have been a few more onions crossing out of Mexico this week. Increases in shipments coming from Mexico will depend on the market conditions there.” On transportation, Steve noted, “Truck transportation has been adequate for our needs.”
Dwayne Fisher with Champion Produce in Parma, ID, reported on February 28 saying, “You can almost see the end! We finished production last week in Utah. This week we will be closing our Champion West plant and then we will finish our last month of production just at Champion and Tamura’s.” He continued, “We are going to see a major contraction of supply. The market has been really active this week. As more IEO sheds call it a season the next two weeks I feel strongly that upward momentum on prices are just around the corner Reds are already strengthening and as more yellows come off the supply chain a grassroots movement of pricing momentum will happen on the yellow side. Foreign soils don’t appear to be poised do bring any downward pressure, which is their normal effect. All things positive for our American Farms and Growers!”
Paul Reeping with Riverfront Produce in Payette, ID, told us on February 28 that Riverfront’s demand is steady this week. “Demand for quality onions is very good. We are moving all sizes of yellows and reds and with the current demand expect to go until the end of March.” Paul added, “Our quality remains very good and the freight situation has helped us move the volume we need to satisfy our customers.”
Idaho-E. Oregon/Washington:
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, told us on February 28, “Demand is good this week,” Jason said, “Buyers are looking for reds and yellows in all sizes and we have good availability. There are some whites crossing from Mexico now.” On the market, Jason noted, “The market on whites seems to be decent and the market on reds and yellows has remained stable for a couple of weeks now.” Jason commented on transportation. “Transportation is good and we are having any trouble finding trucks.”
Idaho/Washington/Oregon/Utah:
This week, we caught up with Rick Greener with Greener Produce while he was preparing to compete in a skiing event at Snowbird, Utah. He provided his report on February 28 saying, “Demand is good and we’re cruising right along,“ Rick said. “We are filling our commitments on all sizes and colors. Buyers are asking for whites. Reds are getting snugged up; plan ahead on those and yellows in all sizes are moving well. Earlier, we saw a trickle of Mexican onions crossing, but it seems like maybe they were testing the market, and it didn’t compete with the market in Mexico, and they backed off, because since then we haven’t seen any open Mexican volume coming.” On freight, Rick commented, “It’s easy. No issues there.” He concluded his report saying, “Remember, we have boilers, Cipollinis and pearls, so come and get ‘em!”
Organic Onions
Brad Sumner with Pacific Coast Trading Co. in Portland provided his report on February 28. “Does anybody out there feel like the last two years of onion business has been the craziest ride ever?” Brad said. “In my 30 years, I thought I seen it all but especially this past 4-5 months with the Conventional demand market and the conventional white onion market, then the organic white market. Prior to that we had shortages, covid. I am done with it but not out! It will all calm down, it has too, right? Demand is staying nice and steady, as growers run out of organic colors, the search for the next option is filled with the regulars and the brokers who before this season never dabbled in Organic onions. All the extra calls from people you never heard of asking if we have any onions for sale. Whites are still very tight, but a mild flow of Mexican OG whites is appearing along with reds and yellows.” He continued, “There are still yellow organic onions up North and should be until April. The market on new crop, especially on whites is starting out strong. I feel like unless a big influx of new onions shows up, March is going to stay strong and hand to mouth. Keep on keeping on!”
Wisconsin:
Doug Bulgrin with Gumz Farms in Endeavor provided his report on February 28. “Well, we are doing our very best to keep our customers happy and we’ll be lucky if we can make to a May finish,” Doug said. “Normally, we can go to July, but with the heavy demand we’ve had this season there is just no way we were going to make it.” Doug continued, “The market is very strong and medium yellows are the hot tick right now. You know, I haven’t never seen a stronger market than this one in a long, long time.” On quality, Doug said, “Freight’s great. No problems there.”
CROP
Imperial Valley, California:
Mike Smythe provided an Imperial Valley crop report for West Valley Packing on February 28, saying, “The onion crop in the imperial valley is moving along nicely. We had a good run of 80+ degree days.” He continued, “Start date is expected week of April 22nd based on previous seasons.” He added, “California is expecting another cold storm which we won’t see in the Imperial valley. Steady progress in the fields and the onion stands look very good start to finish.” Many thanks to Mike for sending photos of Imperial Valley conventional onions. Click to enlarge and scroll.
