Posts Tagged “Idaho onions”
J.C. Watson Packing Co. of Parma, Co.started its Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion harvest the second week of July and will continue through October.
The marketer will sell its Idaho-Eastern Oregon onions from storage through mid-May 2025.
J.C. Watson Co. received its name from its founder back in 1912, when he established a produce company in southwestern Idaho.
For over 90 years, the company has produced, packed, and marketed Spanish sweet onions.
In 2010, the company created two additional companies: J.C. Watson Packing Co. focuses on the packing, selling, and shipping of onions, while Watson Agriculture Inc. focuses on growing and producing a sound, superior onion for its customers.
In May this year, the company broke ground on its new onion-packing and rail facility in Wilder, Idaho. The $32 million facility will enhance the company’s operational capacity and support local and regional markets with improved transportation and distribution infrastructure.
Construction on the new packing and rail facility began in late May, with expected completion in February 2025. The new 70,000-square-foot facility will allow the company to process over twice the volume of onions handled now, significantly expanding capacity and extending the local season for Idaho and Eastern Oregon onions.
The region is in the midst of what could be the second-hottest summer on record, and yellow iris virus is thriving in isolated areas, but onion shippers in Idaho and eastern Oregon report the 2013 crop overall should be very similar to 2012’s in both quantity and quality.
Just watch watching is being put in the truck.
The onion harvest started in mid August and should hit full swing around September 9th.
Some reports of “limited” quality problems with the crop have surfaced. Folks that’s like admitting your kid is ugly. Again, just watch your loading. It may be okay, but use caution. The big red flag is the region is experiencing big time heat. Onions hate too much heat.
On schedule
The Idaho-eastern Oregon onion shipments typically follows those in New Mexico and California, and looks to be on schedule.
There are about 21,000 acres of onions in the region, which traditionally produces about 1 billion pounds annually. The Treasure Valley area is the largest single producing region in the country, accounting about 25 percent of the onions shipped the USA.
Yellow virus threatens crop
Growers in the Malheur region are reporting the yellow iris virus is hitting hard in some isolated spots. However, it’s too early to tell how severe losses could be, but no doubt there will be some losses. The virus is carried by thrips, a nasty looking little insect.
Idaho/Oregon onions grossing – about $3400 to Chicago.