The National Onion Association (NOA) has sent AG Secretary Sonny Perdue a letter outlining a plan to economically boost U.S. onion growers.
The letter outlines the differences between onions and other commodities and breaks down why large onions grown for food service cannot be dumped into the retail market, which wants smalls onions.
Greg Yielding, NOA executive vice president, said in regard to other aid USDA has promised to ag producers,
“We’ve got to do something to directly benefit the producers. Some of these other programs do not directly benefit the onion grower.”
Greg Yielding, NOA executive vice president
Under the NOA’s proposal, all assistance money would be paid directly to onion growers. The plan suggests a cap of $16 million for an onion-specific program to be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. It would be open to all U.S. onion producers, shippers and packers.
Under the NOA proposal, farmers would be paid $5 per 5O-pound unit of onions for farmers who:
• Have documentation they have had to dump deteriorated crops – because of lack of market and no other viable options – retroactive to March 16.
• Are having to dump deteriorated onions at present.
• Donate onions for use as livestock feed.
• Who donate onions to food banks.
