Posts Tagged “onion shipments”
Domestic onion shipments got off to a slow start in some parts of the country due to weather factors, but volume loadings are now occurring.
The National Onion Association of Eaton, CO reported fewer onion shipments than normal in early May. While supplies remained steady in some areas, weather and a drop in acreage resulted in lower volume in others.
However, as more shippers in additional growing areas became active, loadings have increased.
California, Georgia and Nevada began shipping onions in early May as the season was winding down in Texas. Several other states, including Michigan, New York and in the northwest, have planted for a fall harvest that will start in August.
Mexico is also shipping onions to the U.S., while Canada typically exports onions to the U.S. in the fall. Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, Idaho, shipped red, white and yellow onions out of California’s Imperial Valley until the end of May, before shifting to the central part of the state. However, Eagle Eye’s primary summer loadings from June to August will be out of New Mexico.
Little Bear Produce of Edinburg, Texas wrapped up its Texas sweet onion harvest in early May has transitioned to New Mexico, where it will ship onions until September. Then the company will import onions from Peru.
Wada Farms Marketing Group of Idaho Falls, Idaho-based reports good shipments of its California onions this spring, despite the cold and rainy spring weather this year.W
Las Cruces, NM — National Onion, Inc. begins its 41st season marketing and selling onions for Agrocosa – a Gomez Farm company. This long-standing partnership brings high quality short-day and intermediate white, yellow, and red onions to the U.S. and Canadian summer markets.
“Our longevity is based on a combination of product quality and customers service. Agrocosa has the unique ability to grow and yield a consistent product year-after-year, which has allowed us to further the brand since 1982.” said Micah Smith, Vice President, National Onion Inc.
National Onion looks forward to selling its brands Rio Gold (yellow onions), Rio Pearl (white onions), Rio Ruby (red onions), and Rio Sweet (carton sweet yellow onions) nationwide and to the Canadian market. The company will sell Mexican onions until mid-July and then transition to other sales agreements with growers in the U.S.
There will be less onion volume this year for shipping, which is expected to last throughout the winter.
Excellent quality is being reported on all sizes of storage onions.
Total U.S. onion shipments for the week of Oct. 23-29 totaled 2.52 million 40-pound carton equivalents, down 9% from 2.75 million cartons the same time last year.
Domestic truck shipments for the week of Oct. 23-29 accounted for about 1.79 million cartons, domestic rail shipments accounted for 97,000 cartons and domestic piggyback shipments accounted for 6,000 cartons.
Top domestic suppliers of onions in late October were Washington, Idaho, Oregon, New York, California, Utah, Michigan, Colorado and California.
Washington accounted for 837,000 cartons of onions the week of Oct. 23-29, or about 33% of total shipments in late October. Idaho accounted for 461,000 cartons or about 16% of total supply. Oregon accounted for 124,000 cartons or about 6% of total shipments.
New York accounted for 171,000 cartons or about 7% of total onion shipments in late October. Colorado accounted for about 97,000 cartons or about 4% of total shipments.
Snake River Produce, Nyssa, Ore., reports many Northwest U.S. onion growers saw shorter-than-expected crop volume this fall, which was even worse than last season.
Onion imports accounted for 624,000 cartons during the week of Oct. 23-29, down from 676,000 cartons the same week last year. Imports accounted for about 25% of the total U.S. onion supply in late October.
Peru alone accounted for 518,000 cartons or about 21% of total U.S. onion shipments in late October. Other countries sending onions to the U.S in late October include Canada, Mexico and Spain.
A big part of the U.S. onion shipments originate from Idaho and Oregon.
Idaho harvest onion acreage in 2021 was reported at 10,900 acres, the same as 2020 but up from 8,400 acres in 2018.
Oregon’s harvested onion acreage in 2021 was reported at 21,800 acres by the USDA, up 7% from 20,300 acres in 2020 and up 13% from 19,300 acres in 2018.
In 2021, Idaho onions accounted for 15% of all U.S. onion shipments reported by the USDA, while Oregon commanded a 13% share of all U.S. shipments.
Idaho onion shipments were reported in all months during 2021, but the heaviest shipments were reported from September through April.
Domestic truck shipments of Idaho onions totaled 11.24 million 50-pound bag equivalents in 2021, with export truck shipments reported at 478,000 bags.
Idaho’a piggyback onion shipments were reported at 4,000 50-pound bags, while rail shipments of Idaho onions totaled 1.98 million 50-pound bags.
Oregon’s domestic truck shipments of onions totaled 9 million bags in 2021, while export truck shipments of Oregon onions were reported at 904,000 bags. As with Idaho, Oregon onion suppliers shipped during every month of 2021, with the heaviest volume from September through April.
Oregon’s piggyback shipments of onions in 2021 totaled 70,000 bags, while rail shipments of Oregon onions tallied 1.87 million bags, according to the USDA.
Grower and shipper Eagle Eye Produce, based in Idaho Falls, ID started shipping its new crop of yellow, red, and white onions from their facilities in Western Idaho & Eastern Oregon about a month ago.
The onion harvest, which got underway in the Snake River Valley of Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon will continue through most of September. The company also is harvesting red, yellow and white onions in Washington state. Shipments for russets, red and yellow potatoes started in late August.
Over the next few months, Eagle Eye growers will harvest thousands of acres of world-famous Idaho potatoes along with thousands of acres from key growing areas in Washington.
Eagle Eye reports the crop is looking very good and there is a tremendous amount of demand built up, due to the short supply year from last year’s crop. Overall acreage for this season is down due to limitations with irrigation water and increased input costs for growers and packers. With the challenges early in the growing season, the firm anticipates slightly smaller sizes and a bit lighter yield, but overall, is very pleased with the quality.
To prepare for the upcoming crop, Eagle Eye Produce has built new state of the art storage facilities and invested further into their packing facilities, with state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and automation to reduce labor constraints, improve quality, and contribute to more consistent packs year-round. Eagle Eye Produce has also bolstered its supply of red and yellow Idaho potatoes with increased acreage.
This industry-leading structure allows for one-stop loading of russet, red, yellow, and value-add products from their facilities in Idaho.
Eagle Eye Produce is headquartered in the heart of Idaho potato country, but they grow much more than potatoes. Annually cultivating more than 30,000 acres of fresh produce from Idaho to Mexico, and across most of the Western United States with a national sales and marketing team to support their diverse year-round commodity programs and proven brands. Eagle Eye Produce owns and operates state-of-the-art warehouses and packing facilities in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and California,
Texas onion shipments are underway with spring underway, just in time as Northwest storage onions are running low on supplies.
In fact Northwest storage shipments are expected to finish the season sooner than normal. Washington state onion loadings should be finished in early April, instead of lasting through May.
Texas yellow onions are in good supply, along with red onions from the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Idaho/Oregon onion shipments will continue into April, although some suppliers have completed their season. Stocks typically ship into May.
California onions will be available from the Imperial Valley beginning the week of April 18.
New Mexico onion shipments will open in early June.
Keystone Fruit Marketing based in Greencastle, PA. will start Vidalia onions April 12th and Walla Walla, WA onions in June.
Texas and Mexican onions – grossing about $5000 to Chicago.
U.S. onion shipments are expected to be down significantly in the coming months as weather issues and global supplies are less. The situation is seen as continuing through June.
April onion shipments are off 30 percent from the same time last season. As of April 1st, there were 6 million 50-pound units of onions, an astounding 61 percent plunge from March 1st shipments.
The National Onion Association of Greely, CO report fewer onion exports from Europe, combined with less supplies from Mexico and Canada, plus fewer acres planted and increased demand in the United States are resulting in tighter supplies.
“Our nation’s growers will be working around the clock to continue to meet consumer demand. This could take another few months to balance out,” the NOA said in a press release
Nearly 75 percent of onions imported into the U.S. are from Mexico, but weather this season has decreased production, particularly of white onions. The U.S. had imported 2.94 million 40-pound units of dry/storage onions from Mexico in early April, compared to 5.9 million 40-pound units at the same time last year.
Domestic shipments of spring and summer crop onions is expected to be lower, as well, according to the onion association. The spring crop in California is down 25 to 30 percent in acreage, and Texas sweet onions not only have a drop in planted acreage, but wet weather has slowed the harvest.
Georgia’s Vidalia crop is down about 20 percent as well. The official Vidalia official shipping date was April 22nd.
Onion shipments across the nation are expected to be similar to that of last season (2017).
The USDA reports 2017 shipments were about 6.7 billion pounds, up from about 6.3 billion pounds in 2016.
Of course, loadings will vary by area.
Snake River Produce of Nyssa, OR points to an excellent onion crop with quality and size. While volume in that region was down about 20 percent last year, the company is expecting 30 to 35 percent more onion shipments than a year ago and 10 to 15 percent above normal.
Snake River Produce grows and ships red, white and yellow onions, plus a sweet variety called Snake River Sweets. Shipments will continue until April.
Baker & Murakami Produce Co., Ontario, OR., is reporting a similar onion crop and it sees normal volume for it yellow, red and white onions.
The Snake River region is known for its large onions, which are particularly popular with foodservice operators.
Sunset Produce LLC of Prosser, WA will be shipping its storage onions until mid-May. The company has yellow, red and white onions, sweet onions and some shallots.
National Onion Inc., of Las Cruces, N.M., is a shipper and broker of onions and during the winter months brokers red, white and yellow onions from Onions 52 Inc., of Syracuse, Utah. The company is reporting good quality.
Fagerberg Produce Inc. of Eaton, CO will have less volume this season due to weather factors during the growing period last summer. Reporting good quality, Fagerberg will be shipping red, white and yellow onions into March.
Western Idaho – Malheur County, Oregon onions – grossing about $4700 to Dallas.
Potato shipper Eagle Eye Produce, headquartered in Idaho Falls, ID, is loading potatoes out of Mattawa, WA, and Pioche, NV, with farming operations at each location with production and shipping facilities on each farm….Meanwhile Oregon onion shipper River Point Farms is shipping onions year around.
Eagle Eye Produce has found the Nevada growing area offers ideal growing for potatoes due to isolation and dry climate. This reduces disease issues which often hinders other growing regions. The company has a climate-controlled storage on site, providing it with the ability to ship potatoes starting in September and going through May.
In Mattawa, the Eagle Eye facility will provide about 2,500 truck loads of product available for shipment with a high percentage of No. 1’, which means excellent quality that is shipped to foodservice customers.
Eagle Eye started its new crop potato shipments on August 1st and will continue shipping through next July, which means it has potatoes year-round.
Eagle Eye Produce reports trucking and transportation issues remains one of the biggest challenges with the company and the produce industry.
This is resulting in Eagle Eye searching for alternate means of transportation for shipping product ranging from rail, to cold connect, and intermodal. There operation also has its own logistic department with a fleet of trucks that helps reduces the challenges it faces with transportation.
River Point Farms
River Point Farms, based in Hermiston, OR, is a vertically integrated, source-based onion supplier shipping whole skin-on, whole peel and cut onions to market 52 weeks per year.
The company is one of the largest onion shippers in the United States growing between 400 to 500 million pounds of onions annually. The firm has yellow, red, sweet yellow, sweet red, white and organic yellows on its farms in the Columbia Basin. River Point has a state-of-the-art packing and storage facilities allowing it to grow, store, pack and process quality onions year-round.
River Point Farms started its new crop of onion shipments in late June.
Harvest start dates were later than last year, but Georgia produce shipments gathered steam in May and June should be even better.
March and April cool weather resulted in fewer shipments than year, when Georgia growing regions experienced a warm spring. The top two months for Georgia produce shipments in 2106 were June, with 48 percent of the state’s total yearly volume, and July, with 19 percent.
Ken Corbett Farms LLC of Lake Park, GA had 2018 harvest dates running 10-14 days behind normal. J&S Produce of Mount Vernon, GA has had a similar experience with squash and zucchini.
Through April 2017 Georgia had shipped 4.1 million pounds shipped of squash. By the end of April this year zero pounds of squash had been shipped. Georgia squash shipments last year totaled 49.7 million pounds.
Through April 28, Georgia blueberry shipments totaled 2.8 million pounds, down from 66 million pounds at the same time last year. For the week of April 23-28, Georgia accounted for 20 percent of total U.S. blueberry volume, down from 34 percent at the same time last year.
Total Georgia blueberry shipments last year totaled 22.5 million pounds.
Georgia cabbage shipments of the week of April 23-28 totaled 2.2 million pounds, down from 6.3 million pounds the same time last year. Georgia accounted for 15 percent of total cabbage supply for the week, down from 36 percent of total supply a year ago.
Season-to-date shipments of Georgia cabbage through April 22 totaled 2.4 million pounds, off from 11.1 million pounds at the same time a year ago. Total Georgia cabbage shipments last year totaled 61.5 million pounds.
For the week of April 23-28, Georgia onion shipments totaled 16.8 million pounds, down from 19.7 million pounds the same week a year ago.
Georgia onions accounted for 16 percent of total U.S. onion volume, compared 17 percent at the same time a year ago.
Season-to-date shipments of Georgia onions through April 28 were 25 million pounds, down from 57.1 million pounds at the same time last year.
Georgia onion shipments last year totaled 283.6 million pounds.
There were exception with Georgia produce where loadings were actually ahead of year ago.
Georgia is a significant producer of greens. For the week of April 23-28, Georgia shipped 3.3 million pounds of greens, up from 2.7 million pounds the same week last year.
The state’s shippers accounted for 65 percent of U.S. greens volume, compared with 43 percent of total U.S. shipments at the same time. Total greens shipments from Georgia topped 80 million pounds in 2017.
Georgia broccoli shipments through April 28 reflect bigger volume in 2018 so far compared with 2017. For the week of April 23-28, Georgia accounted for 2.3 million pounds, up from no reported shipments the same week a year ago.
Georgia accounted for 8 percent of total U.S. broccoli supply the week of April 23-28.
Season-to-date shipments of Georgia broccoli through April 28 totaled 14.7 million pounds, up from just 3.3 million pounds the same time a year ago. Total broccoli shipments all of last year totaled 4 million pounds.
Georgia carrot shipments the week of April 23-28 totaled 1.9 million pounds, up from 1.6 million pounds the same week a year ago.
Georgia represented just 7 percent of total U.S. carrot supply for the week, slightly up from 6 percent the same week a year ago. Total Georgia carrot shipments in 2017 totaled 19.4 million pounds.