Onion industry veteran Jared Gutierrez is now president of the National Onion Association after serving the last two years as first vice president for the organization.
Gutierrez, general manager of Volm Cos.’ Pasco, Wash., office, will serve as the organization’s president for the next two years, according to a news release. Gutierrez said in the release that he relates to all members of the organization, from farmers to equipment dealers to seed sales.
“I know how to grow it, I know how to farm it, store it, cure it, run it to the warehouse, package it, ship it and sell it,” he said.
Gutierrez said that he would like to help cement U.S. onion farmers’ role in regaining their share of the global onion industry.
“We used to be a net exporter of onions and now we’re a net importer,” he said. “How do we regain our share in the world? The onions grown here in the U.S. [vary] from all varieties to all sizes; we grow bigger onions here. We can produce, we know how to farm.”
Retailers should purchase U.S.-grown onions, he said.
As the National Onion Association’s new president, Gutierrez said that he will advocate in Washington for the nation’s onion farmers, and agriculture in general.
“I have dirt in my veins,” he said. “I love farming, I love advocating. Being in the NOA, I’ve learned to advocate, especially when I go to Washington, D.C., and talk with politicians to fight for the farmers of America and helping them understand what farmers of America go through.”
