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

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

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

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

The demand for organic has infiltrated the sweet Vidalia onion world — a demand that’s rising incrementally year after year, growers and marketers say.

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.

How close are robotic apple harvesting machines to commercial deployment?

Apples are on a roll, and that momentum should continue nicely into August and the new crop.

What started out as a way to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and ensure a quality berry pack has resulted in a sustainable, environmentally friendly and profitable program for Oxnard, Calif.-based Bobalu Berries.

Buyers can expect ample onion volumes out of Washington and Oregon this year, suppliers say.