YERINGTON, NV - As we here at AndNowUKnow look to bring timely updates on the state of the onion market, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported higher pricing across the onion category. To get further insight into the current market and rising prices, I recently talked with Jessica Peri, Retail Sales Manager at Peri & Sons Farms.
“The onion market is always a tough one to pinpoint,” Jessica begins. “Typically, our Imperial Valley, California, season can be challenging because there are storage crop onions still available and Texas is still shipping. Vidalia® did start earlier this season, and that has taken some pressure off of Mexico and Texas sweet onions, but overall, fewer supplies have kept pricing strong.”
As the Mexico and Texas seasons wrap up, the category is set to see strong demand for California onions.
Jessica also notes that supplies have been up and down, and that volatility has kept pricing high, in addition to the skyrocketing costs of producing crops. As reported by the USDA, current market prices for sweet onions range from $23.00 to $26.00.
“The bottom line is: onions and all crops are going to be more expensive,” Jessica points out. “Growers are trying to keep up with the inflation. For those of us that are invested in storage and packing facilities, we have to get higher prices. There are still growers in Imperial that pack in the field. It is important for buyers to know what they are getting.”
As logistical and supply challenges continue to impact the fresh produce industry, we will continue to report on their impacts on pricing.
For more industry insights and market updates, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
