Red onions get a boost out of the Rio Grande Valley

While Texas is known for its sweet yellow onion, reds are getting their day in the spotlight, too.

At Grow Farms Texas, Donna, this is the second year for Italian sweet red onions, said Tommy Wilkins, director of sales and business development.

“We’ve got about 50,000 cases this year, and that’s up from last year,” Wilkins said. “Demand for them was super, and the quality was excellent.”

J&D Produce, Edinburg, Texas, launched the Honeysuckle Red onion last season, and expects to continue with it this year, said Bret Erickson, director of business development.

The company bills it as “not just another red onion,” with a flavor that doesn’t overpower the palate, and tested well below the pungency of other red onions on the market.

Growers have been reducing white onion acreage in favor of reds over the past few years, said Don Ed Holmes, president of The Onion House LLC, Weslaco, Texas.

“Our yellow acreage has been pretty consistent, about 70%, with 15% white and 15% red,” he said. “Now we’re closer to 20% red and 10% white.”

Demand for onions overall is increasing, Holmes said, with a “disproportionate increase in consumption of reds.

“There are some new varieties of reds out there that have hit a home run with appearance,” he said.

“That’s one thing that’s really going to help the Texas deal. Reds are very popular and they’re building a lot of demand.”

Foodservice is helping in this area, he said, with companies like Wendy’s and Subway switching to reds.