News and Stories

The Idaho, Oregon, and Washington onion seasons are forecast to end earlier than normal. Excessive heat and rain during the summer growing period decreased the quality of this year’s crop. Field volume was low, decreasing storage shelf-life and forcing growers to sell sooner than expected. Markon predicts that red and white onions will remain available through early to mid-March. The yellow season will wind down in mid-April. Limited quantities of sweet onions are available from Mexico (into Texas), but the conventional Mexican yellow onion season will not begin until late February. Red and white onion stocks will hit the market by mid- to late February.  

Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Utah

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions will remain readily available through mid-April  
• Current stocks are approximately 15% below last year’s Northwest volume
• Hot, rainy summer weather during the growing period kept supplies tighter than normal
• While a large proportion of the crop continues to be of good quality and adequate size, there are more problems than in years past
• Expect steady-to-higher price levels through the rest of the season
• The red and white markets will rise at a much faster rate than yellow prices as volume is lower
• Demand is average

Mexico

• Overall acreage is comparable to recent seasonal norms
• Limited quantities of packer label medium yellow and sweet onion stocks are available now
• Sweet onions will be thin skinned and flatter than the globe-shaped onions from the Northwest
• Supplies are packed in 40-pound cartons
• Prices are currently at least $5.00 higher than conventional jumbo yellow onions in the Northwest 
• Size is smaller; approximately 30% of cartons are 3.5” or larger
• Expect red and white onions to reach the marketplace by mid- to late February
• Stocks will be on the market through March
• While early season rain will cause sporadic problems, recent weather has been decent for growth
  

South Texas

• Early estimates indicate planted acreage is approximately 20% lower than last year; this continues to be a year-over-year trend
• Pending weather-related issues, MFC Yellow Onions will become available in early April; red and white supplies will hit the market in mid-April and be available through May

California

• Southern California plantings have begun; acreage is comparable to previous years
• A strong El Niño effect would increase precipitation and snowpack, creating favorable conditions in the San Joaquin Valley
• The larger the water supply, the greater the ability growers have to generate a healthy crop

New Mexico

• Markon will update overall acreage levels in the upcoming weeks 
• The season kicks off the first week of June   

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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