IEO reports lowest storage onion volumes in last decade
IEO reports lowest storage onion volumes in last decade
Early indications are that volumes were down for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion region, but recent numbers provided by the Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association show that even those initial findings were higher than what is actually in storage.
Candi Fitch, executive director of the association, said that a Nov. 1 storage survey "puts numbers to the talk that the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion crop is down considerably."
Initial USDA figures had yields estimated at up to 575 hundredweight per acre, but Ms. Fitch said that the region's wet spring during planting and excessive heat in July caused heat stress to the onions, and the toll taken on the crop has resulted in the lowest volume in more than a decade.
Area shippers said in September that yield per acre averaged 528 hundredweight, down significantly from 2005's per-acre yields of 690 hundredweight .
A Nov. 1 storage report estimated that field-run volume for the remainder of the 2006 season is 6.6 million hundredweight, compared to the Nov. 1, 2005, storage survey report that showed an estimated 9.7 million hundredweight for the remainder of that season.
"Movement for the season has been reflective of the decreased volume," Ms. Fitch said. "The numbers reported for this season show the lowest storage numbers in over 10 years, but even though the crop is down, quality is good. There is also a good range of sizes, and the shippers remain optimistic for the season."
Ken Stewart of Fort Boise Produce Co. in Parma, ID, concurred with the storage survey and with Ms. Fitch's assessment of the season. "As we progress in the season, the quality remains very good," he told The Produce News. "But we are surprised at how low the yields were. At Fort Boise, we'll finish up in late March, and we usually go through April 15-25."
He added that demand is "close to average" this season, prices are strong and "growers are anticipating a stronger market."
Prices are likely to increase as supplies become even tighter after the first of the year, said Grant Kitamura of Murakami Produce Co. in Ontario, OR.
"[Storage volume] is a record low from what I can see," Mr. Kitamura said Nov. 20. "We are running one line and are at about 60 percent of capacity."
He said that onion availability in other areas has been low as well.
"Eventually we will feel the real crunch in supplies," Mr. Kitamura said. "I anticipate prices to go up."
Both shippers are members of the Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association, a trade association formed in 1962.
The association provides a variety of industry-related services to produce shippers and has an active membership of some 33 regional fruit and onion shipper members as well as 76 industry support company members across the nation. Active throughout the year, the association stages several meetings plus an annual convention and business meeting in June.
Candi Fitch, executive director of the association, said that a Nov. 1 storage survey "puts numbers to the talk that the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion crop is down considerably."
Initial USDA figures had yields estimated at up to 575 hundredweight per acre, but Ms. Fitch said that the region's wet spring during planting and excessive heat in July caused heat stress to the onions, and the toll taken on the crop has resulted in the lowest volume in more than a decade.
Area shippers said in September that yield per acre averaged 528 hundredweight, down significantly from 2005's per-acre yields of 690 hundredweight .
A Nov. 1 storage report estimated that field-run volume for the remainder of the 2006 season is 6.6 million hundredweight, compared to the Nov. 1, 2005, storage survey report that showed an estimated 9.7 million hundredweight for the remainder of that season.
"Movement for the season has been reflective of the decreased volume," Ms. Fitch said. "The numbers reported for this season show the lowest storage numbers in over 10 years, but even though the crop is down, quality is good. There is also a good range of sizes, and the shippers remain optimistic for the season."
Ken Stewart of Fort Boise Produce Co. in Parma, ID, concurred with the storage survey and with Ms. Fitch's assessment of the season. "As we progress in the season, the quality remains very good," he told The Produce News. "But we are surprised at how low the yields were. At Fort Boise, we'll finish up in late March, and we usually go through April 15-25."
He added that demand is "close to average" this season, prices are strong and "growers are anticipating a stronger market."
Prices are likely to increase as supplies become even tighter after the first of the year, said Grant Kitamura of Murakami Produce Co. in Ontario, OR.
"[Storage volume] is a record low from what I can see," Mr. Kitamura said Nov. 20. "We are running one line and are at about 60 percent of capacity."
He said that onion availability in other areas has been low as well.
"Eventually we will feel the real crunch in supplies," Mr. Kitamura said. "I anticipate prices to go up."
Both shippers are members of the Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association, a trade association formed in 1962.
The association provides a variety of industry-related services to produce shippers and has an active membership of some 33 regional fruit and onion shipper members as well as 76 industry support company members across the nation. Active throughout the year, the association stages several meetings plus an annual convention and business meeting in June.
