Onion growers in Washington, Idaho and Oregon are gearing up for their late-summer harvests, and all indications are that plenty of good-quality onions will be available from that region this season and beyond.
Cali Hipp, executive director of the Parma, Idaho-based Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee, is optimistic about the crop.
“Across most production areas, weather conditions have been favorable, allowing the crop to develop well,” she says. “While we have experienced some intermittent windstorms and localized hail events, the overall crop continues to progress as expected.”
Grower-shippers expect to provide a reliable onion supply to meet customers’ needs throughout the marketing season, she adds.
Wada Farms Marketing Group
In Idaho Falls, Idaho, Eric Beck, director of marketing for Wada Farms Marketing Group, says growing conditions have been typical for the Pacific Northwest and that development is on track.
“Quality is trending within normal ranges, and size is still progressing as we approach harvest,” he says.
While it was too early to project final volumes and pricing, Beck says expectations were in line with recent seasons. Harvest will begin in late summer and continue into fall.
“Our focus on onions remains centered on consistent quality and reliable supply,” he says. “We’ve made targeted improvements to our packing operations and continue to refine packaging formats to better match retail needs and consumer preferences.”
Wada Farms’ offerings include yellow, red and white onions, with yellow onions representing the majority of its volume and demand from retail and foodservice, Beck says.
“We offer a range of pack sizes and retail-ready options to support merchandising flexibility,” he adds.
Eagle Eye Produce
Onion supplies should be a little tighter this season than last year, says Joe Ange, director of onion sales for Idaho Falls-based Eagle Eye Produce. And that should keep markets stronger than they were last year.
“Potatoes and onions were sold below the cost of production for much of last season, which isn’t sustainable for growers over the long term,” Ange says. “We’re hopeful the market can settle into a healthier spot that supports growers while still providing good value and a reliable supply for customers.”
Eagle Eye Produce has cut back its acreage this year “due to market conditions and the overall returns the past couple of seasons,” Ange says. But he expects the firm’s volume to be about the same as last year.
The company offers yellow, red and white onions for retail, foodservice and export customers, says Coleman Oswald, director of sales.
“Our biggest sellers are Spanish sweet onions,” he adds.
Eagle Eye Produce ships onions from storage in Idaho, Oregon and Washington through the spring before moving into fresh crop onions from California, New Mexico and Texas.
The company ships potatoes and onions throughout North America as well as to customers across Asia and the Middle East.
“We’ll start harvesting onions in Washington in early August before moving into Idaho and Oregon later in the month,” Ange says.
Onions 52
An onion grower’s life can be challenging, says Tiffany Cruickshank, sales representative for Onions 52, Ogden, Utah.
“Like much of agriculture, onion grower-shippers continue to face challenges related to inflation, labor, input costs, weather, regulatory pressures, transportation and overall market volatility,” she says.
As a vertically integrated grower, packer and shipper, Onions 52 specializes in yellow, red, white, organic, tearless and sweet onions, Cruickshank says.
“Yellow onions continue to be a core item, with strong demand across reds, whites, organics, sweets and Smileys depending on the season and customer,” she says.
The company’s Smileys Tearless & Sweet onions and Organic Smileys Tearless & Sweet onions continue to be a strong program for both retailers and consumers, she adds.
Smileys season typically begins in early November.
Onions 52 offers a wide range of onion packaging options, from individual PLU-stickered onions to consumer bags, cartons, bins and bulk totes.
“We work closely with customers to support the pack sizes and formats that best fit their programs,” Cruickshank says.
Location Matters
Grower-shippers agree that the Pacific Northwest can’t be beat as an onion-growing mecca.
“The Pacific Northwest continues to be an ideal growing region due to its soil, climate and experienced grower base,” Beck says.
“The Pacific Northwest has just about everything potatoes and onions need to grow well — warm days, cool nights, rich soil and reliable water all come together to produce high-quality crops year after year,” Ange adds.
“The Pacific Northwest is a strong storage onion region,” says Cruickshank. “Once the crop is harvested and placed into storage, it allows us to manage supply in a more consistent way than some summer production areas, where inventories can be more fluid.
“The region’s growing conditions and storage capabilities are a real benefit for year-round onion programs,” she adds.
