MARKET
Walla Walla, WA:
Harry Hamada and Mike Locati with Pacific Agra Farms LLC in Walla Walla told us July 18 that the season is going well and they are shipping all sizes of the famed Walla Walla Sweets. “Sizing is good, with a lot of jumbos,” Harry said. “We got through our fall crop and are into transplants now.” The farming operation, which packs and ships through Walla Walla River Packing, is also moving good supplies of mediums in consumer packs, he said. “Demand is good, and pricing is at $16-$18 for 40-pound carton jumbos,” Harry added. Mike said, “We have a very good range of sizes to fill all orders, and we’ll be going to late August.”
New Mexico:
Steve Smith with National Onion Co. in Las Cruces said on July 19 he was down to his last 70 acres and will be out of New Mexico onions by the end of July. “The season has been good,” Steve said. “Movement has been steady, and now that we’re at the end of the season, prices are up.” He said jumbos and mediums continued to move well, and the weather overall had been favorable during the season, although there was some heat along the way. Steve said he’ll move from New Mexico up to Utah for a start to the summer onion season in Syracuse around Aug. 10. “We’ll ship right out of the field,” he said.
Trent Falkner with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, said his company’s New Mexico deal has about another four weeks to go. Right now, he said on July 19, onion sizes are running colossal and super, with a good supply of jumbos as well. “The sizes will get smaller as we continue,” he said. “The red onion deal is good now on jumbos, and we have a good supply of those. Pricing is better on mediums in all colors.” He said medium yellows brought $10, the same as jumbos. Trent also said jumbo whites are in good supply, and he added, “We’re out of medium whites.”
Mexico:
Dale DeBerry with AllVeg Sales in Bourne, TX, told us on July 19 he had finished up his Durango deal sooner than originally expected. “We finished Durango early and are waiting on product from Baja CA,” Dale said.
California:
Robert Bell provided photos of Willow Springs, CA. Antelope Valley. A cool video of the area will be posted next week.
[robo-gallery id=”6840″]
CROP
Washington:
Larry Bauman with L&L Ag. Production in Othello, WA, said on July 19 that his operation began harvest on July 18. “We started harvesting our transplants yesterday and the onions look good,” Larry said. “As far as crop progress, the southern end of the state may be a little further ahead on the direct seeded onions, but all areas have had good growing weather and everything is coming along nicely.”
Oregon/Washington:
Trent Falkner with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, said on July 19 the Hermiston and Umatilla crops will start in mid-August, with yellows shipping first. “We’ll get into all colors and sizes as the season progresses,” he said.
Mackenzie Mills with River Point Farms shared these recent photos of Jonathan Miller, Fresh Pack Plant Manager and his kids Kellen and Brooklyn. Making this season a family affair.
[robo-gallery id=”6844″]
Idaho-Eastern Oregon:
Ashley Robertson with Fort Boise Produce in Parma, ID, said on July 19 that weather conditions have been good in the Treasure Valley, but she added the company’s crop is still running a couple of weeks behind, and she expects to start the season around Sept. 1.
Tiffany Cruickshank with Snake River Produce Co. in Nyssa, OR provided recent crop photos showing good crop progress.
[robo-gallery id=”6841″]
Northern Colorado:
Ryan Fagerberg with Fagerberg Farms/Fagerberg Produce in Eaton told us on July 15 the crop was looking very good, and he expects an Aug. 1 start to the harvest. “Everything is good,” he said, adding that severe weather earlier in the week had been mainly to the south of his area.
Kansas:
Trent Falkner with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, said the Ulysses crop will start in late August.
North Dakota:
Barry Vculek with Four Star Ag in Oakes, ND, said that North Dakota has received warm weather this season. “The warmer weather has been good for the crop,” Barry said. “We are going to start in mid August.” Barry said that this year’s crop is average on size profile.
Wisconsin:
Doug Bulgrin with Gumz Farms in Endeavor, WI, said that the weather has been good and the crop is in good shape. “Everything looks to be on track,” Doug said. “We just have to see how the next several weeks goes with the weather.”
Michigan:
Jon Meyer with Market Brothers reports that the Michigan crop looks very good. “Lately, its been cooler but overall we’ve had good weather this growing season,” Jon said. “Looks like it will be a good crop but the next three weeks will be crucial.”
