Featured image: Walla Walla River retail onions, photo courtesy of OnionBusiness.com
MARKET
Walla Walla:
Michael Locati with Locati Farms and Pacific Agra Farms reported to us on July 23, saying the season is at a bit more than the halfway mark. “We’re moving out of a heat wave now,” he said, adding, “Hopefully we can keep harvesting away.” He said crews are harvesting transplants, and he added, “We should be finished with harvest by Aug. 15.” The Walla Walla River onions shown in the photo were spotted by Onion Business’s Sherise Jones on an outing recently. Gorgeous sweets!
New Mexico/Mexico:
James Johnson with Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus told us on July 23 his growers in Mexico are nearing the end of the season. “Chihuahua is winding down,” he said. “New Mexico is about two-thirds complete, and everyone is actively harvesting intermediate-day onions,” he added. James said rains “have been spotty in the area.” And he noted, “The season for us has been good. Good marketing partners and strategy really pay off on odd years like this one!” James added, “I wish I could call out California,” James said. “There are a few excellent growers, shippers, and marketers, and then there are a few I feel should quit. The yellow market is trash because these few go in without a plan or market.”
Five Points, CA/Washington:
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms in Salem, OR, told us on July 24, saying, “The week started out slow, but it’s starting to pick up,” John said, “We are shipping out of California and it looks like California will continue to ship until mid-August. Washington is starting up and they’ll have yellows this week, followed by whites next week and reds the week after that. It’s been hot in the Northwest, but the Washington guys have managed the heat well and whatever damage there is, they’ll be getting that out through packing, so everything looks good going into the new season so far. We are hearing the size profile is leaning toward larger onions, and again, they’re looking at good quality for startup, and startup is expected to be in a slow way which is typical.” John continued on the market, “A lot of the market pricing is dependent on quality,” he said. “The jumbo red market is very active and because they are tight, pricing is good. The yellow market dipped in the last couple of weeks but is coming back. I will say that if shippers have a few extra loads on the floor, they’re going to move them. That’s just the way it always goes and it’s no surprise. It’s not the norm, but if you have onions you need to get off the floor, you get them off the floor. As a wise man once said. If the market is great all the time, you sure don’t need salespeople!” Finally, on transportation, John said, “I guess I might sound like a broken record, but it’s true. If countless truck brokers are calling, transportation must be fine.”
New Mexico/California/Mexico (via Texas)/Spain/Idaho:
Rick Greener with Greener Produce in Ketchum, ID provided his report on July 24. “We’re shipping out of New Mexico, California, Mexico and we continue to have onions coming from Spain for customers on the East Coast,” Rick said. “The onions coming in from Spain has proven to be a good deal for buyers that can trust the transportation and don’t mind waiting for the two weeks they have to wait for the shipment on the water. Still, in some cases, it can be easier than a truck from the West Coast. It just depends on what works for the buyer’s needs. So far, the shipments have made it in good time and in some cases ahead of schedule.” Rick continued on demand. “Demand is pretty good this week. Buyers are looking for Colossals, jumbos, pre-packs, and medium yellows.” On the market, Rick said, “The red market is holding and the pricing is good. Last week, yellows looked like they were sliding, but the market now is gaining some strength. There are still people out there talking it down, but it’s really just talk. Finally, boy, the white market is all over the place.” Rick also mentioned when his team will start moving Northwest product. “We are looking at mid-August before we start selling Northwest onions,” Rick said. “We hear some shippers may start next week, but in a very small way.” On freight, Rick joined the group this week in noting, “Freight’s easy, and we have no problems there.” Rick ended his report with his familiar call to action for his Idaho shallots, pearls, and Cippolinis. “Don’t forget, if you need ‘em, we got ‘em! Let’s go!”
Bakersfield, CA/Washington:
Hayden Bingham with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, provided us with the L&M report on July 24, and he told us, “We finished up with Bakersfield this past weekend, and we’re in a holding pattern until we start-up in Warden, WA next week,” he said. “The season in California worked out OK for us, but like a lot of folks in California, we battled with the heat.” On the market, Hayden said, “There has been some heat in Washington too, but our crop has good stands and looks very good. When we get started, we’ll be going full steam!” Hayden also commented on the market, “The market for reds is still good,” Hayden said. “And though it looked like the yellow market was coming off last week, it caught some legs over the weekend and it looks like it’s strengthening.”
CROP
Rocky Ford, CO/Ulysses, KS
Hayden Bingham with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, provided us with the L&M’s crop update on July 24. “The crop in Rocky Ford and Kansas is looking great,” Hayden said. “We’ll get going on Rocky Ford around the 20th of August with whites and then going with all three colors by the end of August. Our Kanas program will start their program at the end of August, and we expect a good season for both regions.”
Wisconsin
Doug Bulgrin with Gumz Farms in Endeavor provided his report on July 24. “We’ve had quite a bit of rain this spring and it slowed us down a bit,” Doug said. “While we could use a little more sunshine, we are on track for a September 1 startup and the crop looks nice. Plus, we have a long way to go in terms of growing and what happens at the end is what counts.”
