Market News for April 14

WA:

Bybee Produce in Prosser, WA, will be shipping yellows and reds for two more weeks before wrapping up the season, according to Jason Walker. “Overall it’s been a good season for Bybee,” he said.   

IEO:

Chris Woo at Murakami Produce in Ontario, OR, reported on April 13 that the market was at $7.50 on jumbo yellows, with some pricing higher and lower. Movement is considered fair to moderate. Chris added that all of the onions shipping out of the Ontario shed are being brought out of cold storage, and Murakami expects to finish up in early May. 

Rio Grande Valley, TX:

Tony Campise of Utah Onions/ Southwest Onions Growers said the operation is currently shipping sweets out of Raymondville and Edinburg.  Misty, foggy weather this week has created some minor delays, but quality has been very good for onions coming out of the Rio Grande Valley, and Tony anticipates increasing demand and market price in the next couple of weeks. The company will be shipping through the middle of May and then will switch to New Mexico crop near the first of June. 

Don Ed Holmes at The Onion House in Weslaco said his operation is about halfway through the Texas deal and wrapped up Mexico inbound on Saturday, April 9. “With Texas we’re on the bigger half,” he said, noting that “acreage-wise, the second half fields will yield more than the first half.” Don Ed said he expects another three weeks to the deal. “We’ve missed the really bad weather,” he said. “We got a quick shower earlier today and didn’t clip, but we’re hauling. We’ll clip tomorrow.” He said quality is the best of the season, with the “best varieties, too.” Pricing has been somewhat erratic, up from $9 to $12 on jumbos. “Mediums were $14 and dropped to $8, but they could go back to $14 over the weekend. Whites are ranging $12-$14,” he said. 

Yuma/West Mexico:

Western Onion, headquartered in Camarillo, CA, with other California branches in Brawley, Fresno and King City, continues to move onions pulled from Ciudad Obregon in the Mexican state of Sonora and shipped out of Yuma, AZ. Western Onion owner Gerry Valois said shipping started April 4 and will wrap up around April 22. He said weather has been very favorable and movement has been good with an elevated market.

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