WASHINGTON:
Brenden Kent at Sunset Produce in Prosser told us on Oct. 5 that currently there is a lot of pressure on the market while people are trying to finish up with harvest. He said it’s the same situation every year, and after harvest is complete, the market tends to stabilize. Brenden also mentioned that demand for whites has been good and also fairly good for reds. He added that after PMA, holiday demand will start kicking in, which should help improve the market. Sunset Produce is looking forward to participating as exhibitors at PMA next week, he said, and will be at Booth 1243, located in the Washington Pavilion. “We will be showcasing our various packaging types, which includes our popular sweet onions,” he said. “This year, we are fortunate that we will some have owners working in the booth.” One Sunset owner/founder, Robert Munn, will be on hand to network with customers.
Larry Baumann, owner of L&L Ag Production in Connell, WA, said harvest of storage onions should be wrapped up early next week.
Nick Beahm with Eagle Eye Produce in Idaho Falls, ID, said his company is shipping from Wahluke Produce in Mattawa now. “There are plenty of reds in Washington,” he commented, noting quality is good. He said that overall in the marketplace big onions are in good supply, and he said, “There are not a lot of mediums out here.” Citing an unsettled market, Nick said, “There are lots of onions in the pipeline right now.”
IDAHO-E. OREGON:
Trent Falkner with L&M Cos. Raleigh, NC, office reports that demand has been up and down but overall the movement has been steady. Falkner commented, “The market is really on the cheap side right now. There are so many onions out there that prices aren’t very good right now, and there are so many supers and colossal, it’s hard to say if one size or color is outperforming another.”
Nick Beahm with Eagle Eye Produce in Idaho Falls told us the overall onion market right now is “crazy.” He said, “It’s the last week for harvest for a lot of guys, and the market is unsettled. There are not a lot of mediums out there.” Nick also said, “There are plenty of reds in Washington, and overall big onions is the name of the game right now.” Eagle Eye represents Fiesta Farms in Nyssa, OR, and he said quality is “excellent, with amazing whites this year as well as gorgeous reds and of course beautiful yellows.” The Oregon operation is “a couple of weeks out with harvest.”
Herb Haun at Haun Packing Co. in Weiser, ID, reported that demand has been better this week than last, but supplies are still outweighing the demand. Mediums continue to be tight, and Haun commented that his white onion supplies are disappearing fairly fast. Herb said currently there is a lot of pressure on the market with growers still trying to get all of their onions off the ground. “Basically, this is the last week of the season where the tail end of the harvest is keeping the market off. I expect that in the next week to 10 days the market will start to be bullish.” He added, “The bright spot is that the quality of the onions coming is absolutely excellent.”
COLORADO, Western Slope:
Don Ed Holmes with The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, said his Colorado crew was starting to pack on Oct. 5, and everything should be in storage by the coming weekend. “We will have onions to quote tomorrow, Oct. 6,” he said.
SE COLORADO/KANSAS:
Trent Falkner with L&M Cos. reported movement out of the area is very slow, but that has been by choice. “There has been a lot of rain and hail damage,” he said. “We are just focusing on getting the onions in storage.” Falkner said the company is keeping shipments down and hoping for pricing to improve.
