Calif. onions expected down due to rain
Calif. onions expected down due to rain
The 2005 California onion harvest is expected to kick off in the Imperial Valley in late April, a few days later than normal, with good quality but smaller sizes expected and volume lighter than usual due to weather.
A similar situation is anticipated later in the season as the onion harvest moves north into the central San Joaquin Valley.
The acreage of fresh-market spring onions planted for harvest in California this year is estimated at 7,300 acres, exactly the average of the previous two seasons, according to USDA?s National Agricultural Statistics Service. While some growers in California "report mild temperatures and good conditions that have led to good stands," others "are two weeks behind schedule because of below-normal temperatures and rain," and some acreage "was not planted due to wet field conditions," according to USDA.
Storage onion acreage in California is similar to last year at 29,000 acres but down from the 36,000 acres planted in 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Darrell Kelso Jr. of Onions Etc. in Stockton, CA, expects a "normal crop? from the Imperial Valley beginning about April 18 and hitting peak volume between May 9 and May 26. "We start Stockton the first of June and will go to September, then transition up into Washington," he said. The company also has a winter onion deal in Peru, and this year has a new shipping deal in Vidalia, GA.
There is "a lot of optimism? about the market this summer, he said on Tuesday, April 12. "The red and white onion market this morning [is] as high as $23 to $24? for onions from Mexico. "I don?t see any volume coming on in the next four to eight weeks? that will change that much."
Doug Stanley of Harris Fresh LLC in Coalinga, CA, said that the company?s onion program in the Imperial Valley will start around April 20-25 and continue about six weeks. "Then we start up here on the home ranch [in Coalinga] about the first of June," continuing "right on through October." That is later than in years past, as the company has added new production in some "outlying areas that we can bring in later."
Additionally, "We have our sweet onion deal that we run from June through mid-August," he said.
Mr. Stanley expects the crop in the Imperial Valley to be "erratic? and "down overall compared to last year? with "mildew pressure in some areas." Sizes will be "smaller than what we want," he said.
Quality at the shipping point should be good, but "I think people, if they are wanting to put up a premium pack, are going to have to be conscientious about what they are doing. We try to ship a premium label, and our growing partners down there, Vessey & Co., have a similar mind set," he said.
He expects markets to "stay pretty strong? at least until July.
Ronnie Van Bebber of Pappas & Co. in Mendota, CA, will have onions from the Imperial Valley beginning about April 20 and from California?s Fresno area until about July 10. "We cut out our late deal? for the fresh market this year and will be going on contract to the bulk market for the late deal, he said.
The Imperial Valley crop is "lacking a little in size? on the front end, but "that will probably pick up? after the first block or two, he said.
?Up here [in Fresno County], we?ve had some problems? due to rain during the planting season. There are some "bad stands," he said, and he expects "light yields."
Joe Dalena of Dalena Farms, which has an office in Madera, CA, and a packing facility in Huron, CA, and grows reds, whites, yellows and sweets in the Central San Joaquin Valley, expects this year?s harvest to start the last week in May. The crop is "probably six to eight days behind? normal, he said. "Stands are good," but sizes will be smaller than usual with "a lot more mediums." Because of rain disrupting the planting schedule, he expects some peaks and valleys in volume during the harvest. "We definitely hear a lot of talk about that," he said.
A similar situation is anticipated later in the season as the onion harvest moves north into the central San Joaquin Valley.
The acreage of fresh-market spring onions planted for harvest in California this year is estimated at 7,300 acres, exactly the average of the previous two seasons, according to USDA?s National Agricultural Statistics Service. While some growers in California "report mild temperatures and good conditions that have led to good stands," others "are two weeks behind schedule because of below-normal temperatures and rain," and some acreage "was not planted due to wet field conditions," according to USDA.
Storage onion acreage in California is similar to last year at 29,000 acres but down from the 36,000 acres planted in 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Darrell Kelso Jr. of Onions Etc. in Stockton, CA, expects a "normal crop? from the Imperial Valley beginning about April 18 and hitting peak volume between May 9 and May 26. "We start Stockton the first of June and will go to September, then transition up into Washington," he said. The company also has a winter onion deal in Peru, and this year has a new shipping deal in Vidalia, GA.
There is "a lot of optimism? about the market this summer, he said on Tuesday, April 12. "The red and white onion market this morning [is] as high as $23 to $24? for onions from Mexico. "I don?t see any volume coming on in the next four to eight weeks? that will change that much."
Doug Stanley of Harris Fresh LLC in Coalinga, CA, said that the company?s onion program in the Imperial Valley will start around April 20-25 and continue about six weeks. "Then we start up here on the home ranch [in Coalinga] about the first of June," continuing "right on through October." That is later than in years past, as the company has added new production in some "outlying areas that we can bring in later."
Additionally, "We have our sweet onion deal that we run from June through mid-August," he said.
Mr. Stanley expects the crop in the Imperial Valley to be "erratic? and "down overall compared to last year? with "mildew pressure in some areas." Sizes will be "smaller than what we want," he said.
Quality at the shipping point should be good, but "I think people, if they are wanting to put up a premium pack, are going to have to be conscientious about what they are doing. We try to ship a premium label, and our growing partners down there, Vessey & Co., have a similar mind set," he said.
He expects markets to "stay pretty strong? at least until July.
Ronnie Van Bebber of Pappas & Co. in Mendota, CA, will have onions from the Imperial Valley beginning about April 20 and from California?s Fresno area until about July 10. "We cut out our late deal? for the fresh market this year and will be going on contract to the bulk market for the late deal, he said.
The Imperial Valley crop is "lacking a little in size? on the front end, but "that will probably pick up? after the first block or two, he said.
?Up here [in Fresno County], we?ve had some problems? due to rain during the planting season. There are some "bad stands," he said, and he expects "light yields."
Joe Dalena of Dalena Farms, which has an office in Madera, CA, and a packing facility in Huron, CA, and grows reds, whites, yellows and sweets in the Central San Joaquin Valley, expects this year?s harvest to start the last week in May. The crop is "probably six to eight days behind? normal, he said. "Stands are good," but sizes will be smaller than usual with "a lot more mediums." Because of rain disrupting the planting schedule, he expects some peaks and valleys in volume during the harvest. "We definitely hear a lot of talk about that," he said.
