Latest News From Texas Onions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the suspension of the South Texas Onion marketing order provisions, according to a news release.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. I mean, this wiped us out completely,” Uvalde vegetable grower Brandon Laffere said of the devastation wrought on Texas crops by Winter Storm Uri.

Onion acreage is down in Texas, and the mid-February freeze will take another bite out of the crop.

Mid-February freezing temperatures in South Texas reduced yields for the onion crop, and that is expected to translate to higher prices this season.

Effective July 30, assessment rates for onions handled under the South Texas onion marketing order will decrease from 6.5 cents to five cents per 50-pound unit.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 6 with Trent Bishop, vice president of sales for J&D Produce, Edinburg, Texas.

The South Texas Onion Committee has developed www.tx1015.com, a website devoted to South Texas-grown onions.

Acreage is up this year at Mission, Texas-based organic onion grower-shipper South Tex Organics LLC.

The Weslaco, Texas-based Onion House has fewer acres planted this year than last, said Don Ed Holmes, owner.

Organics are still a niche category in the Texas onion business, but they still grow — and sell, suppliers say.

Favorable planting and growing conditions have onion growers and shippers in South Texas anticipating a timely start and smooth season in 2020.

Growing organic onions in south Texas is difficult and the deal represents just a fraction of the overall volume from the region.

Look for first volume of south Texas onions by mid-March and strong volume by mid-April.

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

A cool, wet planting season pushed Texas onions a few weeks later than usual, but grower-shippers aren’t bothered by the delay.

Industry consolidation is causing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to propose reducing the number of members on the South Texas Onion Committee.

Catch some quick updates on companies and groups involved in the Texas onion deal.

Many Texas onion grower-shippers use the famous Texas 1015 label, but they also have their own unique approaches to marketing their onion crops.

Texas onion buyers should see a traditional mid- to late March start to the season after a typical winter with some cold and rain.

Business updates on companies featured in the Texas Onion shipping profile