Featured image: Telesis yellow onions, photo courtesy of Mike Smythe with Telesis in Five Points, California
MARKET
Walla Walla:
Michael Locati with Locati Farms and Pacific Agra Farms said on June 26 his Walla Walla season is going well. “We are ramping up for the 4th of July next week,” he said. “We’re hoping to have some Rosé out before, but it’s going to be tight.” Michael said Keystone Fruit Marketing will be allocating accordingly.” Best to get orders in for them now,” he said. “The crew is moving through the fields.” And Michael said, “We’re blessed with a bountiful crop and labor that is just right this year. We know the grocery bill is high for everyone but that shouldn’t stop us from getting together to celebrate the freedoms we have in this country. What better way than with a Walla Walla Sweet Onion! Happy 4th of July next week!”
Five Points, California:
Mike Smythe provided for Telesis Onion in June 26. “Telesis Onion will start a 4 day field harvest gap starting Friday,” he said. “This will give us a chance to pack out of our cooler and clean the floor before the intermediates arrive. The white market showed some life this week, reds are still very good, yellows, it’s a battle except for medium yellows.” Mike continued, “Quality is the best in many years, sizing is well distributed, and trucks are not an issue. When the intermediates start, we will push the month of July to get as many onions as we can packed and shipped to avoid the start of onions from the Pacific Northwest.” Mike ended his report with, “Have a good 4th of July.” Many thanks to Mike for sending in Telesis Onion photos this week.
New Mexico/California:
Joe Ange with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, provided us with Eagle’s updates on June 26. “We’re seeing a wide range of pricing and quality in markets between CA and NM this week,” Joe said. In New Mexico we’re having a great week and have been able to maintain great volume and fairly steady pricing despite still some cheaper priced Mexican grown onions coming into the US. We’ve also made the shift in New Mexico from winter-over varieties into spring seeded which will bring overall size profile down a bit.” He continued, “Quality is very good and we’re seeing good arrivals into our customers. We have good supplies available in New Mexico and California with the most prominent sizing available being Jumbo Yellow onions in all regions. Red onions are a little tight this week but we expect adequate supplies moving forward. Mexican demand on white onions has flipped from selling to buying – everyone seems to be getting run over with demand for white onions.” And he added, “It will remain to be seen if this will be a sequel to the Northwest season where demand into Mexico drives up not only white, but also yellow markets. There certainly seems to be some strong undertones. In the Northwest we have a few over-winter yellows available starting this week in Washington. Today in the Idaho-Eastern Oregon area at about 2 PM we had a major thunder and hailstorm pass through Nyssa, we are still assessing damage to fields and structures, but it will likely be significant.”
California/Mexico/Texas/Idaho:
Rick Greener with Greener Produce in Ketchum, ID provided his report on June 26. “Demand is good for mediums and pre-packs,” Rick said. “Demand is steady on the larger sizes. We anticipated a pull for the upcoming holiday but aren’t seeing it. We have a day or two, and we’ll see what happens. Currently, we are shipping onions out of California, New Mexico, Mexican onions coming up through Texas, and pearls from Idaho.” Rick continued, “Whites are scarce, and the market for those is increasing as rapidly as it went down earlier. As far as the market for other colors and sizes, it’s all over the place. We’re looking at a 2-5 dollar split on everything. Quality is all over the place, too. It’s just crazy out there now. One thing that seems stable is freight, and we’re doing fine there.”
Vidalia, GA:
Danny Ray, with Ray Farms Inc. in Glennville, GA, told us on June 26 that the market is off this week. “We’ve seen the market come off, but we are still encouraged moving forward,” Danny said. “We’re hearing that California might be making a push, which will help. The onions we have in storage are absolutely excellent, but we’ve slowed down the sales because there is no sense in selling them just to break even.” Danny continued. “As I mentioned, we do think this is temporary, and the market should pick back up.”
CROP
Colorado Western Slope/Corine, UT:
Chuck Hill with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, told us on June 26 both Colorado and Utah have had good growing conditions, and the crops are progressing well. In Colorado, John Harold will be harvesting in September, and Utah will start shipping in October.