Green onion supply is ample right now and will become even more so as the summer moves on.
“The supply of green onions is plentiful. It’s the season to start seeing more because there are a lot more local onions. Smaller programs are also about to start, such as those from Canada,” says Juan Carrillo of Calexico, Ca.-based Altar Produce.
He notes that while the majority of supplies come in from Mexico, which grows year-round, smaller programs are about to start from both Eastern and Western Canada, South Carolina and Florida.
However supplies haven’t always been this sufficient throughout the year. “At the very beginning of the season, it looked like it was a lot less. We had a very good season this past year--since October of last year--leading into the beginning of this one. The market went up to about a $30-$35 on a box when typically a normal market is in the $7-$8 range,” says Carrillo.
Switching out crops
However, he notes that more and more growers have cycled out of green onions and are instead opting for more revenue-generating items such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli or cauliflower. “I think it caused a sort of shortage in the market. But now it seems like it’s completely turned and we’re seeing more of a normal market,” he says. Demand seemed atypical as well in that while it looked strong, that perception came about thanks to lower supplies coming in from Mexico and demand might not be there for the summer.”
So for now, pricing is around the $7-$8 range. “That’s a more normal market,” says Carrillo. “I don’t see pricing dropping further. But I do see demand decreasing as the supply increases.
For more information:
Juan Carrillo
Altar Produce
Tel: +1 (760) 357-6762
juan@altarproduce.com
http://www.altarproduce.com/