Sweet Clover transitioning into Sweet Clover Sweets
Sweet Clover transitioning into Sweet Clover Sweets
As the summer onion shipping kicked into high gear in southeastern Washington, Bill Brownfield of Sweet Clover Produce in Walla Walla said that the transition from Walla Walla Sweets to Sweet Clover Sweets in late July or early August is expected to be smooth.
Mr. Brownfield said June 28 that all onion varieties handled by his company are "growing exceptionally well" this season, and supplies of Sweet Clover Sweets will be good through January.
"These are all yellow sweets, and we guarantee their sweetness," he said, adding that the globes are third-party tested for pungency.
As the sweets move into the marketplace, Sweet Clover will also start shipping its whites during the second and third weeks of July, with good supplies through March. Yellows and reds commence in mid-July and will run through May, and sweet reds will start the third and fourth week of July and run into 2008.
Primary growers for Sweet Clover are Grigg & Sons in the Quincy area, Bud Locati in Walla Walla and Grotz Bros. in Hermiston, OR.
"Grigg & Sons is known as one of the top onion producers in the world," Mr. Brownfield said. "They grow the famous Red Wing variety, which is recognized as one of the best for foodservice."
In touting his sweets, Mr. Brownfield said that testing has shown the yellows to have a pungency rating of between 2 and 4 and a sugar rating of 8 to 10. The red sweets come in at 3 to 4 for pungency and 10 to 13 for sugar.
"That puts the sweet reds in the 'extra sweet' category," he said.
Describing the season as "ideal in the Northwest," Mr. Brownfield went on to say that Sweet Clover would ship from four packing locations in the region. "We're expecting a large percentage of jumbos and colossals, predominantly single-centers on all varieties," he added.
Furthermore, Sweet Clover guarantees a clean, quality pack. "Food safety is a top priority with us," Mr. Brownfield said. "Every aspect of our facility is third- party audited, and we are Good Agricultural Practices-certified. We adhere to all regulations and have excellent trace-back capabilities. I feel you just cannot overemphasize food safety."
In addition to packing for retail in consumer bags and cartons, Sweet Clover also provides 2,000-pound bulk bags for foodservice, and the company offers peeled reds, whites and yellows as well.
"We have contracts with foodservice accounts for single centers in both reds and yellows," Mr. Brownfield said.
"The trade enjoys a large, sweet onion, and ours are predominantly jumbo and colossal, and we cater to foodservice, large chains and smaller independents," he said.
"We also have computer software for i-trade," Mr. Brownfield added.
Sweet Clover ships under the "Sweet Clover," "Columbia Pride," "White Tiger," "Basin Best" and "Quincy Queen" labels.
Mr. Brownfield said June 28 that all onion varieties handled by his company are "growing exceptionally well" this season, and supplies of Sweet Clover Sweets will be good through January.
"These are all yellow sweets, and we guarantee their sweetness," he said, adding that the globes are third-party tested for pungency.
As the sweets move into the marketplace, Sweet Clover will also start shipping its whites during the second and third weeks of July, with good supplies through March. Yellows and reds commence in mid-July and will run through May, and sweet reds will start the third and fourth week of July and run into 2008.
Primary growers for Sweet Clover are Grigg & Sons in the Quincy area, Bud Locati in Walla Walla and Grotz Bros. in Hermiston, OR.
"Grigg & Sons is known as one of the top onion producers in the world," Mr. Brownfield said. "They grow the famous Red Wing variety, which is recognized as one of the best for foodservice."
In touting his sweets, Mr. Brownfield said that testing has shown the yellows to have a pungency rating of between 2 and 4 and a sugar rating of 8 to 10. The red sweets come in at 3 to 4 for pungency and 10 to 13 for sugar.
"That puts the sweet reds in the 'extra sweet' category," he said.
Describing the season as "ideal in the Northwest," Mr. Brownfield went on to say that Sweet Clover would ship from four packing locations in the region. "We're expecting a large percentage of jumbos and colossals, predominantly single-centers on all varieties," he added.
Furthermore, Sweet Clover guarantees a clean, quality pack. "Food safety is a top priority with us," Mr. Brownfield said. "Every aspect of our facility is third- party audited, and we are Good Agricultural Practices-certified. We adhere to all regulations and have excellent trace-back capabilities. I feel you just cannot overemphasize food safety."
In addition to packing for retail in consumer bags and cartons, Sweet Clover also provides 2,000-pound bulk bags for foodservice, and the company offers peeled reds, whites and yellows as well.
"We have contracts with foodservice accounts for single centers in both reds and yellows," Mr. Brownfield said.
"The trade enjoys a large, sweet onion, and ours are predominantly jumbo and colossal, and we cater to foodservice, large chains and smaller independents," he said.
"We also have computer software for i-trade," Mr. Brownfield added.
Sweet Clover ships under the "Sweet Clover," "Columbia Pride," "White Tiger," "Basin Best" and "Quincy Queen" labels.
