A colder winter and the water situation have combined to produce a Texas spring onion crop that is around 15 percent lighter than usual.

At least that is the viewpoint of Don Ed Holmes, longtime industry observer from his perch as owner of The Onion House in Weslaco, TX.

Holmes told The Produce News that the crop was running behind a normal growth pattern by about two weeks. “We had a colder winter so it looks like it will be about April 10 before we get going,” he said.

A colder winter and the water situation have combined to produce a Texas spring onion crop that is around 15 percent lighter than usual.While there does appear to be adequate water for the acreage planted, Holmes believes the acreage is down at least 10-15 percent because of concern over lack of water.

He said some areas didn’t expect to get adequate water supplies so they did not plant.

It could be a blessing that there is less product this year as there has not been a good onion market for the last several months, and the onion doldrums appear to be carrying over to the Mexican onion deal. Many Texas onion shippers also represent onion acreage across their southern border and use it as a seamless transition to their Rio Grande Valley production.

“Mexico didn’t get off to a good start,” said Holmes. “They have had trouble making size since the beginning.”

In the last week of February, he said “there are too many mediums out there and not enough jumbos.” That has led to a significant price differential.

On Feb. 23, Holmes said a carton of jumbos were selling for about $10 f.o.b. at the Mexican/U.S. border, while a carton of mediums could be had for $6-7.

But Holmes is expecting the market to turn around. He said by the time South Texas gets into good volume in middle to late April, both Idaho and Oregon will be finished with their storage deals. Imperial Valley doesn’t start until May and Mexico will also be winding down. Unless Vidalia is early, he said Texas should have a very good market for its less-than-voluminous output.

As far as everything else is concerned, Holmes said status quo is the key word, adding that not much is expected to change this year as shippers will be selling their regular cartons and sacks. Growers, he noted, are experimenting with a couple of new varieties but they are in the same genre as the famous Texas 1015 and won’t cause any marketing changes.