The year-round onion program for Salinas, Calif.-based Coastline Family Farms is heavily focused on foodservice and a big rebound in sales is anticipated this year.
“We are looking forward to that program to bounce back and as we watch some of the key foodservice operations gain more momentum, we’re extremely encouraged with what’s going on there,” said Robert Verloop, chief operating officer.
Coastline does sell onions to some wholesalers and processors but is heavily focused on national foodservice chains.
The company offers onions in 25-, 35- and 50-pound bags, and sources from Brawley, Calif., for about eight weeks through the end of June, then shifts to the Stockton area in the San Joaquin Valley. Volume from Stockton will continue from June through early August, after which Coastline will start its onion deal in Oregon. The storage onion deal there will see harvest operations in August and September and good storage supplies into May.
Verloop said Coastline also has a Mexican green onion program out of Mexicali that has been growing, with expanding packaging options available this year.
Green onions have been a growing category for Coastline, and the firm has more capacity to expand further, he said.
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