Featured image: Many thanks to Tiffany Cruickshank with Snake River Produce Company in Nyssa, OR for sending this beautiful shot of onions on the shipping floor this week.
MARKET
Georgia:
John Adams with John Adams Produce in Atlanta told us the market has been steady this week. “Jumbo and medium reds are holding steady and bringing a good price,” he noted. “The biggest demand I’m seeing right now is in foodservice, which is a good thing because it means restaurants are opening and starting to thrive again. Wholesale is a little slow right now.” John said his new company is gaining momentum “more and more weekly,” and he said he’s partnering with new suppliers in the SW and also has access to Mexican product. Transportation, he said, “is still a challenge. The price has come down in the last two weeks, but as we go into the holidays, prices will go back up.” John added, “Fuel prices are ridiculous. I don’t know what Washington was thinking – they shut down the pipeline and thousands of jobs and are now buying oil from foreign countries.”
Idaho-E. Oregon:
Chris Woo with Owyhee Produce in Nyssa, OR, and Parma, ID, told us on Oct. 13 that demand “is on the quiet side” this week. He continued, “As an area, most of the onions have been harvested in fine shape. Growers now making time for harvest of beans and sugar beets and fall fieldwork.” Chris added that he had been busy “figuring out my flow and pricing for Halloween and future Thanksgiving ads.” And, he said, “Weather has been dry and fallish. We’re hoping for snowpack this winter to help fill up our reservoirs for next season’s usage. So far we’re a little short.”
Herb Haun with Haun Packing in Weiser, ID, said on Oct. 13 the market had been steady this week. “Demand is pretty even for mediums all the way up,” Herb said. “Reds are hot, and whites are pretty hot now, too.” He said 95 percent of the crop is in storage now. “Quality is good. Other than the yields and sizing, which are down, everything is good,” he continued. “But we have adequate supplies, and Americans will still have all the onions they want this year.”
Dan Phillips with Central Produce/Eagle Eye in Payette, ID, reported in on Oct. 13 and said that demand is decent this week. “Demand might be a little down this week over last week, but it’s still good,” he said. “Buyers are still looking for reds, and yellows are still in good demand. Whites really still haven’t taken off. You’d think they would be doing better than they are, but the demand really isn’t there yet.” Dan added the market is strong. “We are really pleased that the market remains steady and strong. We even made another push this morning.” On availability, Dan said, they have a few more larger sizes available. “We are getting in more larger size profiles, but it’s not like normal years, that’s for sure.” When asked about transportation, Dan said it’s getting worse. “Weather is starting to impact transportation,” he said. “We’ve been able to load flatbeds, and that’s going to change. Wyoming is closed, and with the weather comes freight challenges, and it’s only going to get worse, I’m afraid.”
Western Colorado:
David DeBerry with Southwest Onion Growers in McAllen, TX, told us on Oct. 13 that his Colorado growers are in between crops this weekend. “We’ll start back with all three colors next week,” David said.
Western Colorado/Utah:
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said on Oct. 13 that all is good with his Western states deals. “Utah is in the barn will start running next week,” Don Ed said. “Buffalo is storing and running. Movement excellent and price is good.”
Don’t miss Stu Follen’s international report in this week’s issue! CLICK HERE TO READ
PLEASE NOTE ONIONBUSINESS WILL BE OFFLINE FOR MAINTENANCE THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 16-17 AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH TO COME IN NOVEMBER.
