Zappala Farms' 12 locations in the central New York state area include farming operations, a packaging facility and a headquarters office. The company grows, packs and markets the popular "Empire-Sweets" branded sweet onion.

"We are spread between Oswego and Cayuga counties," Jim Zappala, managing member of the company, told The Produce News in late July. "Our 70,000-square-foot packing facility is in Sterling, and our main office is in Victory. Empire Fresh-Cuts is a sister company to Zappala Farms, of which I am co-owner. Its functions are slicing, dicing and whole peeling onions for industrial and foodservice industries."

Zappala Farms is among the larger producers of onions in New York state and is a leading yellow storage onion producer east of the Mississippi. Mr. Zappala said that the company is geared up and ready to kick off the 2008 "Empire-Sweets" harvesting season.

"Harvesting commences on August 1 and runs through the end of September," said Mr. Zappala. "Then we move into cold storage and controlled-atmosphere storage at our own and other facilities that we lease. Because the onions must go through a drying process for six to seven days, we implement packing and marketing processes about 10 days after harvesting begins. At that time, onions destined for the fresh market are shipped and others go into storage."

Mr. Zappala said that controlled-atmosphere storage reduces the oxygen level of the product down to 3 percent, which results in longer storage abilities. Cold storage is used for shorter-term storage needs.

"Empire-Sweets" has an outstanding onion profile, the result of rigorous testing of over 100 onion varieties in the 1980s by Mr. Zappala. The onion was branded in the mid-1990s at about the same time production was increased to meet the strong and growing demand.

"Testing at Cornell University shows the onion's pungency level ranges from 2.8 to 5," said Mr. Zappala. "On a comparison scale, 'Empire-Sweets' will stand up to scrutiny from any competing sweet onion. It's not a watery onion, and it is mild. It is known for its excellent flavor. Combined, these factors bring customers back year after year for their onion of choice."

According to Mr. Zappala, Zappala Farms was the only onion producer that served fresh, raw onions at the 2007 PMA Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition. He said that other sweet onion producer-marketers were serving them cooked in one form or another, and even they were commenting favorably about the flavor of "Empire-Sweets."

"We also have the longest marketing season of any sweet onion in the world," said Mr. Zappala. "The 2007 crop began August 1 last year and ran through February 2008. We anticipate a similar marketing season for the 2008-2009 program. Our volume projections are at about 300,000 40-pound cartons.

"'Empire-Sweets' has provided our retailers with an excellent product that has exceptional shelf life and outstanding appearance," Mr. Zappala added. "Our packaging is highly recognized throughout the industry, and we are continually complimented for the graphics on our 40-pound carton. When marketing season is over, we have a hard time recouping the cartons because retailers like to continue using them."

Melons West, a marketing firm in Olyphant, PA, will be the exclusive marketer of the 2008-09 "Empire-Sweets" onion crop.

Zappala Farms is currently completing the process of becoming third-party audited with traceback abilities, and Mr. Zappala said that it would be completed by late summer.

"We are anticipating tremendous sales opportunities this year," he said. "Not only because of the great product, but also because of the low carbon footprint by which we operate. We are able to deliver to 60 percent of the U.S. population within a maximum of an eight-hour drive."