With production expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent next year and continuing to grow in coming seasons, Telesis Onion Co. in Five Points, CA, is expanding its floor space by 26,000 square feet between now and the onset of the 2017 season, according to Facility Manager Danny Garcia.
New cement poured at Telesis. Photo Courtesy of Danny Garcia
Danny told OnionBusiness.com that the foundation cement has been poured, and the structure will be operational for the new crop.
“We’ll have a total of 200,000 square feet,” Garcia said, adding that the facility includes a cold room and a combination cold/drying room.
Garcia, who has been with the 30-year-old Telesis for 15 years, said, “We’re increasing our floor space because our production is 150,000 cartons per season for foodservice and retail, and we see a 10-20 percent increase in that over the next year.”
Telesis packs in varying bag sizes as well, with bags making up the bulk of the company’s package volume. Carton sizes range from 10-50 pounds, and bagged onions are available in 3-, 5-, 10- and 25-pounds.
Telesis farms grow, packs and ships all varieties and colors, and Danny said the customer base is “balanced between foodservice and retail, although foodservice is going up all the time.” The season runs between late May and late August, and Garcia said the 2017 crop seed is in the ground.
“We handle all sizes from prepack to super colossals, but we’re primarily jumbos,” he said. “We grow and pack all our own onions,” he said. Most of the production is yellows, although are increasing. “And we also grow and pack whites so that when a buyer needs any kind of onions, he can get everything from us.”
Garcia said major foodservice purveyors are “taking more boxes every season,” with Telesis packing 20 different labels. Its own labels are “Telesis,” “Telesis Gold,” “Silver Creek,” “Gold Creek” and “TOC.” The company’s sweet yellow label is “Telesis Sweet,” he said.
Mike Smythe on left – facility mgr, Danny J. Garcia on right
The onions are sold through the separate sales division, Big Country Sales, headed up by Mike Smythe, and Garcia said, “Big Country also sells for operations in other growing regions.”
Shipments are nationwide, and Garcia said,” We work hard to meet the needs of all our customers.”
