Featured image: Bakersfield, CA crop progress, courtesy of Megan Jacobsen with Gills Onions. Photo taken by Jose Cardona with Rio Farms
MARKET
Walla Walla:
Michael Locati with Locati Farms and Pacific Agra Farms said on June 5 that the 2024 season will kick off with the yellow Walla Walla Sweet harvest starting next week and the beautiful Walla Walla Sweet Rosés to follow later in the month. Our thanks to Michael for the great photos this week. Click to enlarge photos.
Bakersfield, CA
Megan Jacobsen with Gills Onions in Oxnard sent us great updates and photos of Rio Farms’ crop progress on June 5. “Temperatures are rising fast in the Central Valley, which means harvest is getting close,” Megan said. These photos are fresh from the fields today in Bakersfield, California. We will begin harvest sometime next week in this growing region.” The photos are courtesy of Jose Cardona with Rio Farms and Megan Jacobsen with Gills Onions. Click to enlarge photos.
Imperial Valley/Bakersfield, CA
Matt Murphy with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, provided his report on June 5. “Frankly, demand is a little sluggish this week,” Matt said. “Our focus right now is to get our Imperial Valley deal finished up so we can move up to Bakersfield. We finish harvesting in Calipatria on Friday, and we’ll continue shipping through the weekend. It’s been a great season for us in the Imperial Valley.” Matt continued, “We’ll be moving up to get going with our Bakersfield program. We expect to harvest next Friday and ship Monday the 17th.” Matt commented on the market: “You know, we’re feeling some downward pressure for sure. There are multiple locations, including Mexico, shipping right now, and it has something to do with a dip in pricing. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”
Arizona/New Mexico/California/Mexico:
Rick Greener with Greener Produce in Ketchum, ID provided on June 5. “We’re shipping out of Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Mexico through Texas,” Rick said. “The onions coming out of New Mexico are on the large side right now. There aren’t a lot of mediums out there, period. I have to say, on demand, it’s off. Buyers are telling me, “It’s too hot.” This time of year, we expect average movement, which still seems a little slower. The market has slipped on jumbos, even colossal. There are deals out there.. The market is still holding on to smaller onions, though. I would like to mention that I wish customers wouldn’t somehow forget what happens during this time of year. We are selling SUMMER onions. They don’t have a ton of skin. They are NOT storage onions. It just seems like every spring/summer, we have the same problem. Then, of course, we do have to consider that because they are summer onions, they need to be packed quickly and moved fast. Loading has to be done correctly. It’s a tricky deal. Sure. Some quality can be hit-and-miss, but a summer onion has a different skin set and is a different onion. We need to all keep this in mind.” Rick ended his report with, “Hey, do you know we have shallots, cippolinis, and pearls? Come on, let’s go!”
New Mexico:
James Johnson with Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus told us on June 5 New Mexico is going full steam. “I think all producers in New Mexico are at 100 percent now,” he said. “Early lots seemed small for most, but size in what is being harvested now is good.” He said Carzalia Valley has all three colors and a full size range. “We have supply of all colors and sizes now out of both Chihuahua and New Mexico. Organics started harvest today, and we will have good supply of organic yellow Monday and both whites and reds organic by the end of next week.” And he added, “Quality has been impeccable so far!”
New Mexico/California/Vidalia, GA:
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, reported on June 5, saying, “Demand is a little slower this week. Buyers are still ordering, so it’s just a little off. Jumbo yellows and reds are moving, but mediums in reds and yellows are tight.” Jason continued, “We’re still shipping out of Georgia and California out of the Five Points area. And New Mexico is going full steam with all colors.” When asked about the market, Jason said, “The market has slipped a bit, but it’s still decent. There are quite a few onions coming across from Mexico, and that hasn’t helped.” On freight, Jason said, “We’re still finding it easy to secure trucks, so that’s a good thing.”
CROP
Warden, WA
Matt Murphy, with L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, updated us about his company’s Washington program on June 5. “Everything is looking good in Warden,” Matt said. “Growing weather is good, and the temps are good for onions now. We look to start up about a week early this season. We should be going August 1, or the first week in August.”
Idaho-E. Oregon/Washington
Jason Pearson with Eagle Eye Produce in Nyssa, OR, told us on June 5, “The crop is looking fantastic! We are expecting highs in the 90’s, and onions love that, so we anticipate a great crop.”
