California onion supplies look to be on the shorter side right now. “I think a lot of the overwinter varieties available at this time of year, you either couldn’t get them planted or they were damaged. There just doesn’t seem to be as much supply as there has been in years past,” says Jessica Peri of Peri & Sons Farms. She notes that the heavy rains earlier this year as well as the temperatures are notable factors. “We got hit with some cooler temperatures and just lost some of the crop so some of the yields weren’t as high.”
Right now, Peri & Sons is transitioning out of El Centro, California (Imperial Valley) and into Firebaugh, California (San Joaquin Valley). “This is a little bit later because we had planted some additional onions in El Centro in anticipation of a bit of a light crop in June out of Firebaugh. We are in El Centro longer than we normally are by about two weeks,” says Peri.
Mexican onions
Along with California, Mexico is also underway with production and contending with California for market share, particularly in the East. “There’s pressure from Mexico at this time of year where normally it hasn’t been this heavy,” says Peri. “I think they’re trying to clean up whatever they can and bring them into the U.S. because the market is a bit higher. The market could be stronger if we didn’t have that pressure.”
As for demand, Peri says it’s decent, though it’s possible inflationary pressure on consumers is affecting onion movement. “When I talk to my retail partners, they say their demand is off. They’re not moving as much volume as they typically have,” says Peri.
That said, pricing has been good and Peri believes pricing opportunities might lie ahead in sweet onions with Georgia having a shorter crop of Vidalias. “They might finish early,” she says. “That might put some more pressure on California. Later down the road, the market could get pretty good by mid to late July.”
For more information:
Jessica Peri
Peri & Sons Farms
Tel: +1 (775) 463-4444
[email protected]
http://www.periandsons.com/