Market Update and Crop News for March 17

Market Update 

Mexico:

“We are really just beginning to scratch the surface for Mexican onion shipments,” commented Dale DeBerry of AllVeg Sales in Bourne, TX. Dale added, “We are shipping approximately 10 loads a day now.” He said he expects he will be shipping Mexican onions through April, moving onions packed in cartons and bags. 

Don Ed Holmes of The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said his company is “a little over halfway in the Mexican deal now.” Don Ed said the deal is “progressing nicely,” and he said the yellow sweet onions, which are moving mostly in sacks, are being sold as regular onions. 

IEO:

Ashley Robertson at Fort Boise Produce near Parma, ID, said Fort Boise is doing well in the late season and will be shipping through April, “which is normal for us.” She said, “We’re on schedule and have very good onions remaining to ship.” 

Chris Woo of Murakami Produce in Ontario, OR, said this week Murakami is seeing slower demand. Pricing is holding at $8 FOB for jumbo yellows. The market for reds is very good and steady at $15 for 25-pound cartons of jumbo reds and $13 on medium reds. Chris reports that Murakami’s production is doing a great job of getting high quality onions into the bag and they expect to see more orders rolling over from other IEO sheds that are finishing their season. Murakami will be shipping through April. 

Crop News 

Vidalia:

Danny Ray at Ray Farms in Glennville, GA, said the 2016 crop is “looking good,” and he noted the area has had record high heat, which is helping with sizing. The crop is shaping up nicely, and though the heat is contributing to a potentially early harvest, the target for shipping is still April 20, as set by official Vidalia shipping regulations, unless the committee’s commissioners decide to change that. Danny also said that while some fields have had issues with sand, overall the quality looks very good and this crop is the cleanest he’s seen in some time. 

Dale DeBerry of AllVeg Sales in Bourne, TX, is in the deal and is in contact with his Vidalia growers at least three times a week. Dale said they are reporting a very good crop this year.  “The tops are looking great, and they expect the sizing to begin developing soon.” Dale also said the crop is on track with harvest for shipments to begin April 20. 

CA Brawley/Imperial Valley

Mike Smythe of Big Country Sales, Inc. told OnionBusiness.com he recently visited the Imperial Valley, and the stands look very good. “Quality is looking good and everything looks to be on track for an April 25-May 1 harvest,” he said.  Mike added, “This is the best crop we have seen in five years!”

TX Rio Grande Valley:

Don Ed Holmes of The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said his new crop out of Texas will start shipping March 22 or 23, “about a week earlier than normal” The crop looks good, and Don Ed said, “We’re seeing a lot of demand for new crop out of here.” 

IEO:

Chris Woo of Murakami Produce in Ontario, OR, said Murakami growers’ planting has been halted for the week due to rains in the area. Overall this won’t have an impact on the crop schedule, he said. “Some growers want to get in early, but they are happy about the rains which has really helped the drought situation. Dry weather is expected next week, and they will get right back in there.” 

At Fort Boise Produce near Parma, ID, Ashley Robertson said growers have been in the fields for a couple of weeks, and she said planting will be finished around April 15. Fort Boise is sticking with its longstanding program of 85 percent yellows, 10 percent reds and 5 percent whites, Ashley said. “Water is looking OK for this year,” she said, noting, “I feel good about the season winding up and the season ahead.”