Earlier this year Texans were told that their onion marketing order would remain in place at least through this season, but last week the South Texas Onion Committee was surprised with sudden news that the marketing order was immediately being suspended. Now it seems things have changed once again and the USDA will be reinstating both the domestic and international regulations associated with the south Texas onions Federal Marketing Order.

Winter Storm Uri, which blasted through the entire state of Texas in mid-February, caused at least $600 million in agricultural losses, according to preliminary data from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economists.

On March 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced suspension of the South Texas Onion Marketing Order provisions. This action is a result of a referendum held by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service concerning continuance of the marketing order.

The damage from what south Texas produce professionals will know as the infamous freeze of St. Valentine’s week started with a hard freeze that began on the night of Feb. 14. The Texas produce industry has deemed the event the “Valentine’s Day massacre for the fruit and vegetable industry of south Texas.” Cold continued off and on through that week, with more freezing temperatures forecast for the night of Feb. 18-19.

South Texas produce growers braced for freezing weather as a cold front moved southward heading into the Valentine’s Day weekend.

Dante Galeazzi, CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, said Feb. 11 that growers in the technically sub-tropical southernmost tip of Texas were expecting to face temperatures in the high 20s late on Feb. 15 going into Feb. 16.

Galeazzi noted that the duration of the cold would be critically important to how much damage could be inflicted on the crops.

Brothers Produce, based in Houston, TX, formally announced that it is no longer affiliated with any other Brothers Produce divisions. Over the next year, the Austin and Dallas divisions will be transitioning to the name Brothers Foodservice.