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By John Harris
Washington is finally off and running with full volume of all colors to be in full swing by the middle of week 34. It has taken awhile to get whites cured down and running. Consequently, prices and availability of white onions are very reflective of the general shortage.
We should see things get a little easier to cover orders by the week of the 29th. I’d expect prices to continue to maintain record levels for several more weeks at least. Red onions are generally plentiful in not only WA, but also California as well. Prices remain very steady. Yellow onions are available in CA and WA, currently with higher than average markets for this time of year. Markets are stable and availability on mediums and jumbos is pretty decent with a few days advance notice. Quality on the tail end of CA so far has been terrific. The early quality on WA onions so far has been very average. As longer day onions are harvested and longer drying times start to happen with more volume coming on board, quality will naturally improve without any concern of this being anything other than a short term situation.
The Treasure Valley of Idaho and Eastern, Oregon (IEO) has held true to its mid-season forecasts of being 3 to 4 weeks late. Unfortunately, those forecasts were pretty accurate. No significant volume is expected out of that area until September 6th, after Labor Day. I can’t remember the last time that volume was this late out of that area. We’ll know more about what to expect in the next 10 days out of IEO.
Colorado is underway in a light way with its harvest, and so far quality looks to be very good with light volumes. More volume is expected to come on after Labor Day and the Western Slope harvest should be underway shortly after that as well.
Canadian and New York onions are being harvested and are coming into the markets as well now. So far, Canadian reports are that quality is good with some smaller than normal sizing and yields.
Michigan and Wisconsin are looking to be kicked off with yellow onions after Labor Day.
Editors Note: John Harris is the president and founder of Paradigm Fresh and Colorado Cold Connect in Fort Morgan, Colorado. He can be reached at John@paradigmfresh.com.
