Onions
LG Herndon Jr. Farms is continuing its partnership with Glory Foods to launch a co-branded line, leveraging the Southern heritage and national recognition of both brands to drive retail excitement this season.
After weathering a volatile winter, this year’s Vidalia onion crop has proven its hardiness through expert field management and innovative technology, ensuring that Georgia’s officially protected sweet onions will be ready for arrival.
Growers of both Walla Walla sweet onions and Vidalia onions are being asked to weigh in on continuing their crop’s federal marketing orders.
Companies say efficient operations and regenerative agriculture are part of good business.
“They come to market during the U.S. offseason, which means consumers can count on a seamless year-round supply,” says Steven Shuman, general manager and vice president of sales for G&R Farms, Glennville, Ga.
The new onions are designed for benefits such as helping reduce food waste with improved uniformity and having better bolting tolerance.
Most U.S. importers of Peruvian sweet onions say they’ll have significant volume by early September, and they’re gearing up for another productive season.
Good weather had contributed to optimistic outlooks in the field.
Along with sharing good news from the field, a number of grower-shippers say exports play a significant role in their sales programs.
While there have been no major disruptions, there’s some concern over the potential for immigration enforcement efforts to impact labor.
Specialty crops play a huge role in the economy of New York, though companies say there is much more that helps the state stand out.
As Hatch chile season sparks consumer excitement and roasting events across the country, New Mexico’s onions also shine, offering a flavorful complement to the state’s iconic pepper.
Growers are optimistic about blueberries and peaches, and that excitement is also shared for the state’s other fruits and vegetables.
Consumer education, creative packaging and retail promotions are among the tools helping elevate onions in the produce aisle.
The Growing America’s Farmers campaign will raise funds to support students pursuing careers in production agriculture.
The third-generation Vidalia grower says it marked eight decades of flavor, family and forward-thinking farming with its team.
Bland Farms says it has launched a “Savor Summer’s Sweetest Moments” campaign to promote Vidalia onions.
The Washington-based onion company looks to the Netherlands for future-proof equipment and European onion packing standards.
The official pack date has been set for Vidalia onions, which are available for a limited time each year from April through early September.
Despite some weather challenges, optimism persists on the verge of the sweet onion’s return.
The Eqrader optical onion grader uses a series of internal and external checks to sort onions at high speed by quality, size, weight, shape and color, the company says.
The site will include recipes, storage and handling tips, nutritional information and insights into production.
Though bulk still dominates sales, consumers are turning more to these pack sizes to shopping convenience and smaller onions that are more recipe friendly.
Marketing campaigns connect with Texas and national markets to increase recognition and consumer preference for TX1015 onions.
Bulk onions marketed by grower-shippers in Washington and Oregon typically outsell packaged product, but they say consumer packs have been steadily gaining traction.
In 2023, onion utilized production in the Pacific Northwest was up 6% from the previous year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Last year, the USDA reported that the state accounted for 46% of domestic-grown onion truck shipments in June, 51% in July and 21% in August.