Duda switches to bin harvesting system for Texas and Vidalia
Duda switches to bin harvesting system for Texas and Vidalia
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., with headquarters in Oviedo, FL, is moving to a bin harvesting system this year for its Texas and Vidalia onions to help increase efficiencies and improve quality.
According to Duda Texas Sales Manager Chris Eddy, this new system will replace the traditional bulk harvesting system that the firm has been using for many years. "To accommodate this new system, we have added a bin- drying facility with increased capacity which will allow us to get a few days ahead in the event of adverse weather, which should help prevent any interruptions in supply," he told The Produce News.
The Texas and Vidalia deals complement Duda's year-round onion program, which includes production from New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Washington state, New York, Mexico and Peru.
Mr. Eddy said that the Texas production should start with light volume sometime during the last week of March. Shipping from Texas should hit peak volume during late April and early May. The company packs its production at its McAllen, TX, packingshed which includes the volume from both the Rio Grande Valley and the Laredo, TX, areas. The Duda sales executive said March 14 that the quality of the crop looked good, with good stands and healthy plants.
As reported in the Texas Onion Section in the March 12 issue of The Produce News, onion volume is light and the markets are very strong. Mr. Eddy said that the demand-exceeding-supply situation "doesn't look like it will change anytime soon."
He added that at this early stage, the Vidalia onion crop also looks good with good stands. In 2006, Vidalia had great growing conditions that produced "record yields and great quality," Mr. Eddy said. "I don't think we'll see that kind of production this year, but we should see normal amounts of Vidalias for market this season."
All indicators point to a crop with a high percentage of jumbos and nice quality, he stated. Vidalia shipments should start in mid-April with Duda expecting its peak volume during the month of May. Markets are expected to be very strong based on the overall onion shortage experienced throughout the industry.
The U.S. Federal State Market News Services has reported that adverse growing conditions in most growing areas of the world have caused onion supplies to be well below traditional levels since last fall. The Market News Report this week (March 12-16) said, "This has caused higher-than-normal onion prices. The outlook for spring production areas providing substantial supply increases is unlikely with acreage down and some areas receiving cooler-than-normal temperatures, therefore delaying harvest and yields."
Onions prices have been consistently above $30 per 50-pound sack and have even approached the unheard of $40 figure. While the addition of sweet onions from Texas and Vidalia will help, decreased production from the Northwest is continuing to keep overall supplies down and the market strong. Duda spokesperson Donna Duda said via e-mail that the company is always looking for new ways to promote sweet onions at this time of year. "Both Texas and Vidalia are the leading sources of supplies of sweet onions during their respective times of the year," she wrote. "We are always working to come up with new promotions and merchandising ideas to help boost sales of these items."
She said that bins and other alternative packaging as well as promotional contests are some examples of marketing help the company offers to its retail customers.
According to Duda Texas Sales Manager Chris Eddy, this new system will replace the traditional bulk harvesting system that the firm has been using for many years. "To accommodate this new system, we have added a bin- drying facility with increased capacity which will allow us to get a few days ahead in the event of adverse weather, which should help prevent any interruptions in supply," he told The Produce News.
The Texas and Vidalia deals complement Duda's year-round onion program, which includes production from New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Washington state, New York, Mexico and Peru.
Mr. Eddy said that the Texas production should start with light volume sometime during the last week of March. Shipping from Texas should hit peak volume during late April and early May. The company packs its production at its McAllen, TX, packingshed which includes the volume from both the Rio Grande Valley and the Laredo, TX, areas. The Duda sales executive said March 14 that the quality of the crop looked good, with good stands and healthy plants.
As reported in the Texas Onion Section in the March 12 issue of The Produce News, onion volume is light and the markets are very strong. Mr. Eddy said that the demand-exceeding-supply situation "doesn't look like it will change anytime soon."
He added that at this early stage, the Vidalia onion crop also looks good with good stands. In 2006, Vidalia had great growing conditions that produced "record yields and great quality," Mr. Eddy said. "I don't think we'll see that kind of production this year, but we should see normal amounts of Vidalias for market this season."
All indicators point to a crop with a high percentage of jumbos and nice quality, he stated. Vidalia shipments should start in mid-April with Duda expecting its peak volume during the month of May. Markets are expected to be very strong based on the overall onion shortage experienced throughout the industry.
The U.S. Federal State Market News Services has reported that adverse growing conditions in most growing areas of the world have caused onion supplies to be well below traditional levels since last fall. The Market News Report this week (March 12-16) said, "This has caused higher-than-normal onion prices. The outlook for spring production areas providing substantial supply increases is unlikely with acreage down and some areas receiving cooler-than-normal temperatures, therefore delaying harvest and yields."
Onions prices have been consistently above $30 per 50-pound sack and have even approached the unheard of $40 figure. While the addition of sweet onions from Texas and Vidalia will help, decreased production from the Northwest is continuing to keep overall supplies down and the market strong. Duda spokesperson Donna Duda said via e-mail that the company is always looking for new ways to promote sweet onions at this time of year. "Both Texas and Vidalia are the leading sources of supplies of sweet onions during their respective times of the year," she wrote. "We are always working to come up with new promotions and merchandising ideas to help boost sales of these items."
She said that bins and other alternative packaging as well as promotional contests are some examples of marketing help the company offers to its retail customers.
