Featured image: Owyhee Produce’s, Shay Myers (left), and Bowles Farming Co.’s Derek Azevedo (right). All photos courtesy of Blake Branen with Owyhee Produce
Onions in the Central Valley of California are ready for harvest, and Owyhee Produce of Nyssa, OR, and Parma, ID, and Bowles Farming Co. of Los Baños in California’s Central Valley, are announcing a new and exciting partnership.
According to Blake Branen, Owyhee Produce Marketing Director, the farming and packing operation in Los Baños “is looking great with harvest starting this week.” Blake said, “The hard work and dedication, not to mention the 160 years of farming heritage, are evident when you look at these fields.”
And, he said, “This new expansion and partnership between Bowles Farming Co. and Owyhee Produce will create a true year-round supply while adding value, consistency, and execution to the equation.”
The Central Valley onions will be available for purchase the first week of June, he said. “Owyhee’s California operation plans to offer the same pack types as its Idaho location when they are in season: 50# and 25# bags, stickered sweet cartons and the entire lineup of consumer net clip bags.”
Blake continued, “Per our customers’ requests, we have accepted the challenge of a California program. We want to bring the mentality of how we handle business to the California onion market. Service, integrity, and dependability are what customers desire and rely on. With this partnership, we will be the difference in California.”
He noted, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for onions within the foodservice arena has been reduced, forcing shippers to adapt and redirect energy and efforts to retail consumer packs. Owyhee will have four dedicated lines for mesh clip consumer bags to fulfill these service demands.”
Owyhee Produce CEO Shay Myers added, “Originally, the plan was to take care of only foodservice customers from this location on year one, but by popular demand we will now have retail capabilities. Yep, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-pound consumer bags all the way to stickered carton sweets. You know how we work, and you know our passion for getting it right. Let us make your life easier where there’s a difference.”
Owyhee and Bowles plan to pack onions until August while overlapping seasons with Owyhee’s Idaho packing facility in July. “Having both operations active simultaneously will present new opportunities to help fill gaps that occur within the onion seasons,” Blake said.
