Warm weather in the Pacific Northwest hurt onion yields this season, though supplies in storage have kept prices steady. But prices will likely rise once storage inventories decrease and the Oregon harvest, which is running early this year, winds down.“A real hot summer affected onion yields in Washington,” said John Wong of Champion Produce. “Oregon and Idaho have had about average yields because, while some fields were affected, it wasn't as drastic as in Washington.” Supplies have been adequate to cover demand so far, but that could change in the coming weeks.
“Being a storage crop, there's been an adequate amount available to release on a weekly basis, but overall volume for the season will get into a position at some point where growers will have to ask for higher prices,” said Wong. “The market will get more bullish down the road; it may be as soon as two weeks or a month.” On October 8, prices for a 50-pound sack of super colossal yellow onions from Idaho and Eastern Oregon were between $11.00 and $13.00 and prices for a sack of jumbos were between $7.50 and $8.00. Prices for a 25-pound sack of red jumbos were between $13.00 and $14.00.
“Prices were high through the summer because the market wasn't able to catch up with volume,” said Wong. “Our fall crop has also been maturing two weeks earlier than usual, so we're ahead of schedule on shipments. At some point, prices will get higher because of lower inventory in storage.”
For more information:
John Wong
Champion Produce
+1 208 722 5800