Following the expansion of its grower network, Fagerberg Produce will be marketing organic onions this season. “We picked up a few new growers,” said Sales Manager Alan Kinoshita. “One of these growers we took on has a few acres in organic.”

While Fagerberg Produce is not certified as an organic onion grower, Kinoshita said the company is certified as an organic handler.

Fagerberg Produce is based in Eaton, CO, and Kinoshita said the new growers bring more than 200 additional acres into the mix for both conventional and organic onions.

Fagerberg Produce owner Lynn Fagerberg and his son, Ryan. (Photo courtesy of Fagerberg Produce)Weather is always a topic of discussion in northern Colorado, where conditions can change on a dime. As for the situation during the 2014 production season, Kinoshita said, “It’s the same old story every year. We’ve gotten nicked with a few storms here and there. But overall, weather has been good.”

Colorado’s Front Range, which runs north and south along the trailing edge of the Rocky Mountains from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, has seen its share of problems this year.

Spates of problematic weather have included an unusual number of tornados, hailstorms and torrential rainfall.

“[On June 22] we had some light hail,” Kinoshita told The Produce News, adding that the hail could slightly delay the onset of the harvest within these specific acres.

Conditions during production have markedly contrasted with the 2013 season. Last year, growers were around a month later than usual getting their transplants into the ground. This year, the only planting delays were associated with labor shortages.

The company and its grower network produce reds, yellows, whites and some sweets. Kinoshita said the harvest will commence along familiar timetables at the end of July or beginning of August.

“It’s a little too early to tell regarding sizing and quality,” he told The Produce News. “But the crop looks good.”

Fagerberg Produce gears much of its production toward the retail sector, and as a result Kinoshita said the size profile falls most heavily to mediums.

The harvest will conclude during early October.

Onions are marketed “Mile High Legacy” and “Mountain Pride” labels, and marketing occurs throughout the year. Sweets are sold under the “Colorado Sweet” label. Private label is also available at customer request.

The onion volume sold within Colorado ranges between 15-20 percent. The balance is marketed to customers in the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. Three-pound bags have been good sellers for yellows, and consumers have favored both two- and three-pound bags for whites. Reds are available as a bulk item and are also sold in two- and three-pound bags at customer request.