Onion export to Central America down 80%

In the last 5-6 weeks demand for onions has been good despite the low prices of onions. “Prices are extremely low in comparison not only to last year’s prices, but on a five year average,” explains Shay Myers of Owyhee Produce. Although the company’s produce is currently stored from the 2014-2015 season, they expect a small reduction in acreage and volume for the 2015-2016 season.

Roughly 5% of Owyhee’s onions are exported mainly to Central America, but also to Canada and Mexico. However, exports have been hindered by the West Coast port slowdown. “The slowdown has caused Central American trade to decrease by 80%,” declares Myers, “A container shipment which would normally take 14 to 18 days to get from dock to door now takes 30 to 45 days.”

The West Coast slowdown has impacted all agricultural produce exported from The United States causing an approximation of 2 billion dollars lost per day.

For more information please contact:
Shay Myers
Froerer Farms Inc. DBA Owyhee Produce
Tel: 541.610.0410
Fax: 541.372.5131
www.owyheeproduce.com/