<p>The sweet onion market, simply put, is hot right now. At least that what sweet onion growers tell us about the current market. As they look down the road toward the Summer months, the market is looking to remain just about the same with the growing popularity for sweet onions, as well as the onion category in general, picking up momentum.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Prices on 40 lbs. boxes are currently in the mid -20’s when they are usually in the mid-teens for this time of year, growers tell us.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Delbert Bland, Owner and President, Bland Farms, tells AndNowUKnow, “Demand is currently exceeding supplies at present and though there will be increased volumes going forward, its my prediction that the market will stay hot through the Summer with current consumer trends.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Supplies for Bland Farms are still coming out of Mexico with the company’s Texas operations slated to start in the coming week. The Vidalia crop may be coming on a bit late, but these are things the company deals with every year, Bland notes.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>John Shuman, President, Shuman Produce, tells us, “The sweet onion market continues to tighten due to supplies of Peruvian and Chilean sweet onions being in few hands with low inventories as those seasons come to an end. In addition, cool and wet weather in Mexico has significantly delayed sweet onion production. At this point, its a function of weather but we are hopeful the weather will cooperate long enough to allow for an increase in production out of Mexico to alleviate supplies."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The tight market is due to several different factors at play, Bland tells us, “Texas has also experienced large ranges in weather and temperature that have contributed to timing.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>John Williams, Sales and Marketing Director at Lyons, GA-based Herndon Farms, reflects on the tight sweet onion market, “While Peru is done and Chili is winding down, places like Idaho and Oregon are finishing early as well. So you have the Mexico deal while also waiting for Texas to start up. Our Vidalia crop is starting to put on some good growth now. It also could be delayed but we’ll have to wait and see what kind of growing weather we get for March and April.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we keep our fingers on the pulse of the sweet onion market.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
