ProSource Produce expects strong onion supplies and sales this summer, said Onni Lufkin, director of onion sales at ProSource Produce, Hailey, Idaho.
The firm sources onions from Texas, New Mexico, Mexico and California.
“Comparable to last season, we will have good supplies in all shipping geographies with the exception of our crop in Uvalde, Texas,” she said, noting that the company lost approximately 50% of its Uvalde, Texas, crop to hail in late April.
While not currently offering organic onions, Lufkin said ProSource is working to incorporate organic onions into its future offerings.
Marketing efforts
“We are a grower owned and operated marketing company, bringing the end consumer as close to the source as possible,” Lufkin said. “One of our 2021 objectives is to develop the ProSource label with support on social media, our website, and a mix of trade advertising programs.”
The company now offers sweet onions under the label.
Lufkin said retail demand is up and consistent this year over the first quarter of 2019.
“We are using Q1 2019 as a more accurate year for comparison given the early pandemic spikes of 2020,” Lufkin said. “There are many promotional opportunities for all varieties of onions. Sweet onions, in particular, are an excellent choice for summer-time promotions. Onions are one of the most versatile ingredients out there; cross-merchandising options are endless.”
Lufkin said the market has been bring higher demand for consumer packages, including 3-pound and 5-pound packages.
Related:
California onion suppliers, tell us about your crop
Retailers can capture consumer excitement for onions
Onion consumption on the rise
