News and Stories

The Northwest onion season in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington will run through April. Excessive heat and rain during last summer’s growing period decreased the quality of both yellow and red onions. Sporadic stocks from Mexico are crossing into Texas now. The Texas onion crop has begun in a light way as well, but due to rainy conditions and lower overall acreage, shipments will not reach ample levels this season. Production will begin in California by late April. Expect prices for all colors to slightly firm up by early April as stocks diminish in the Northwest.

As a general reminder, fresh-run onions of all colors shipped out of California, New Mexico, and Texas possess flakier skins, spongier texture, and lighter color compared to Northwest storage onions; see attached pictures. 

Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington

• Storage supplies of Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions will diminish through the month of April
• MFC Red and Yellow Onions will be shipped through mid- to late April
• Packer label white stocks will be available until the end of this month, but some sheds will carry stocks through mid-April 
• Expect lower quality in shipments coming out of storage
• Growers predict more translucent scales in yellow varieties than in years past, due to the hot summer during the growing cycle
• Anticipate sprouting and some internal decay this time of the year as well
• Red onions are having the most issues with sprouting, internal decay, and occasional mold

Mexico

• Packer label red, yellow, and white onion varieties are crossing the border and shipping out of Texas
• Due to inconsistent weather patterns scattered throughout growing regions, supplies remain inconsistent
• Overall acreage is comparable to recent seasons

South Texas

• MFC Yellow Onions are expected to be available the week of April 4; red and white onion stocks will follow two weeks later
• Packer label yellows are available this week;
• Red volume will increase late next week
• Substituting Mexican red onions is an option
• Early estimates indicate planted acreage is approximately 20% lower than last year; this continues to be a year-over-year trend
• Texas-grown onion stocks will be available through mid-May
• As a reminder, a Texas state marketing order prevents the shipment of No. 2 grade onions; Markon will continue sourcing No. 2 grade onions from the Northwest until the Southern California season starts in late April

California

• MFC Yellow Onions will become available the week of April 25; MFC Red Onions will be on the market the week of May 2
• Southern California acreage is comparable to previous years
• The region continues to experience ideal weather conditions; crop growth is ahead of schedule
• Yields are anticipated to be higher

New Mexico

• MFC Onions will become available the week of June 6
• Markon will update overall acreage levels in the upcoming weeks 

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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