Onion World May/June 2019

ONION WORLD Voice of the Industry • OnionWorld.net • May / June 2019

The Racers McLain Farms

PLUS: Onion Variety Update Utah Onion Association Winter Meeting Vidalia Onion Committee Annual Meeting

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Bejo Seeds is a leading breeder and producer of high-performing onion varieties. Bejo breeding focuses on strong root systems, enhanced disease resistance, quality long-term storage, optimum nutrition, and outstanding flavor.

Bejo Seeds are available through quality-minded dealers on both a seed packet and commer­ cial scale. Call the number at right for a list of seed sources. See the Bejo assortment at bejoseeds.com, and the full lineup of 120 organic varieties at organicseedfinder.com

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Table of Contents Magazines For Maximum Yield

PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Telephone: (208) 520-6461

ONION WORLD

www.O n i o n W o r l d .n e t

Volume 35, Number 4

May/June 2019 6

10

12

14 18

Onion World Contacts Publisher / Advertising Manager Dave Alexander dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com

The Racers

McLain Farms

Vidalia Honors Bejo Breeder, Grower of the Year Vidalia Onion Committee Annual Meeting

Perspective From Down Under

Utah Onion Association Winter Meeting

NOA Makes Impression in DC Short- and Intermediate-Day Onion Variety Update Buyers' Guide

Editor Denise Keller editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Director of Operations Brian Feist brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Onion World is interested in newsworthy material related to onion production and marketing.

Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com, or call (509) 697-9436.

ADVERTISING SALES For information on rates, mechanics, deadlines, list rental, direct mail, inserts or other information, call (208) 520-6461 or email: dave@onionworld.net

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Joe McDonagh and Jeff Trickett with Bejo attend the Vidalia Onion Committee's annual awards banquet. See the story on page 10.

On the Cover The McLain family farms 440 acres of Vidalia onions in Lyons, Ga. Pictured from left are Rusty, Chase, Allison, Brett and Kim. See the story on page 6.

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Onion World • May/June 2019

Departments

16 Calendar 16 New Products 17 In The News 26 From the NOA

Subscribe online at: www.OnionWorld.net or call (503) 724-3581.

Email address changes/corrections to brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or mail to: Onion World PO Box 333 Roberts, ID 83444 Onion World magazine (ISSN 1071-6653), is published eight times a year and mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices.

Produced by Columbia Media Group PO Box 333, Roberts, ID, 83444.

Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group.

For information on reprints call (208) 520-6461.

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Former pro racers Rusty and Brett McLain naturally drive the fastest farm trucks they could find, Ford Raptors.

The Racers R

acing is in the McLain family blood.

Brothers Brett and Rusty with McLain Farms used to race cars and trucks professionally, but now settle for go-karts, tractors and even their Raptor farm trucks.

Race trophies adorn their shop, attesting to their past successes.

But the McLains’ newest trophy, for Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year, is going in their Lyons, Georgia, farm office. There, staff can see it and be reminded that they all played a part in earning the award.

Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year

The criteria for Grower of the Year changed this year. The emphasis is now on yield, quality, a lack of complaints and the ability to stay within the confines of the Vidalia marketing order. Brett says it means a lot to him to be the first recipient of the award after the more quantifiable rules change.

He credits the staff at McLain Farms for

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Onion World • May/June 2019

Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

the honor and says they work hard and try their best to put out quality product and produce high yields.

“I want to dedicate this award to our dad,” Brett said upon receiving the award.

His father, James McLain, passed away last year.

A Family Farm

The McLains’ grandfather started the farm, and James ended up with it, teaching his sons the skills that would serve them so well later on. The McLain family all work on the farm. Brett runs the growing side of the 440-acre onion operation while Rusty directs the packing shed. Brett’s wife, Kim, keeps the office on task and efficient, and son Chase drives a mean forklift. Shuman Produce in nearby Reidsville, Georgia, handles the sales. Daughter Allison is too young to have a determined role, but Brett hopes the kids will take over the farm eventually.

The family and full-time staff are small,

so the McLains rely on H-2A contract employees from Mexico during harvest.

Brett says there are not enough locals to do the seasonal, hard and dirty work.

“These days, honestly, you can’t find anybody that is willing to do farm work,” he says.

So the farm has turned to the H-2A program despite the high costs involved.

Workers’ transportation and housing is paid by the farm, along with wages nearly $4 an hour over minimum.

“It’s gotten a lot more expensive, but I don’t know what we would do without it,” Brett says.

They have built housing right on the farm, and the same crew has been coming to Lyons every year for 20 years. Brett appreciates the work they do.

“They do a good job. They are honest and hard-working people,” he says.

Kim handles the voluminous government paperwork, crossing the correct t’s and dotting the appropriate i’s.

Production

The farm has several small ponds and deep wells for irrigation. This year, there has been plenty of rain, filling the ponds. The McLains are environmentally conscious and have switched from highimpact pivots to more efficient lowpressure drop sprinklers on their pivots.

Brett waters about a half inch every five days when the onions start to bulb and swell during the last month of their growing cycle. Until then, the onions don’t need a lot of water.

Trimble guidance is used for planting, guaranteeing consistent row spacing. The sweets are tender and more susceptible to bruising. The growers occasionally use a Top Air harvester, but the crop is almost exclusively hand harvested. Harvest takes six to seven weeks, and they want to be done by May 15. After May 20, they are fighting a losing battle with heat and rain.

This year, April 22 is the date set for Vidalia onions to go on sale. Up to that date, onions are sorted and graded, binned and stored so that once April 22 hits, they are ready to ship. The onion plants look

McLain Farms is the recipient of the 2018 Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year award.

McLain Farms has several small ponds and deep wells for irrigation of the 440-acre onion crop.

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McLain Farms very healthy this year, and they expect an excellent crop.

Brett says that paying attention to detail has been the key to the farm’s successful harvests. The McLains identify weak spots in their operation, focus on them and work to make them stronger. They walk the fields every day, micro-managing and scouting for trouble.

“We are not truck-window farmers,” he adds.

Checkered Flag Past

The McLain brothers raced cars and trucks professionally in the Pro Challenge Series, traveling up and down the East Coast. The pinnacle of their racing career was competing at the famed Bristol halfmile concrete oval in Tennessee.

“Man, that was a blast,” Brett smiles.

The brothers would work on their dad’s onion farm during the day, work on cars at night and go racing on the weekends. A tight schedule like that doesn’t leave much time for family, and Brett decided to hang it up when his son, Chase, was born, cutting out the hectic traveling.

This restored 1975 IH tractor was purchased new by the late James McLain, the McLain brothers’ father.

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Onion World Buyers Guide_Sept2018_Layout 1 9/25/2018 9:17 AM Page 1 Rusty McLain shows off his newest ride, a 2019 Z1 Corvette with 755 horsepower, inside the immaculate shop of McLain Farms.

The race for Grower of the Year is ongoing, though. With the new Vidalia rules, growers can win the award more than once, and the McLains are focused on repeating their title.

“Onions is all we do. We focus on this 100 percent. We are going to shoot for Grower of the Year next year, too.”

For more information about McLain Farms, check out TheOnionPodcast.com.

The McLain Farms fields look particularly healthy this year, and the growers expect a good harvest.

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Vidalia Honors Bejo Breeder,

Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

T

he Vidalia Onion Committee had its annual awards banquet March 15, inducting retired Bejo breeder Roy Kreizenbeck to the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame and naming McLain Farms as Grower of the Year. With more than 200 people in attendance, the event featured a live band and buffet with southern favorites and more dessert choices than an off-strip Vegas casino.

Hall of Fame

A breeder since 1970, Kreizenbeck started breeding dehydrator onions, but moved in to fresh market varieties.

Kreizenbeck’s specialty became shortday onions, grown in the lower latitudes.

Though a resident of California, Kreizenbeck developed some of the first hybrids for the Vidalia industry, starting in 1984. He went on to develop some of the

Four members of the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame gather at the banquet.

Pictured from left are R.T. Stanley Jr., Roy Kreizenbeck, Buck Shuman and Bob Stafford.

most popular and highest-yielding varieties in Vidalia, including Sweet Vidalia, Mr. Maxx, Rio Bravo, Nirvana and Sweet Caroline. But it is the Sweet Vidalia that makes him most proud.

“One of the growers here, R.T. Stanley, was talking to me today about the Sweet Vidalia and what a tremendous onion it was and how it changed things here,” he said.

Kreizenbeck retired three years ago but continues to work every day, consulting for Bejo, looking at trials, gathering information and making recommendations for new breeders in the company.

Marjorie and Buck Shuman enjoy the evening.

From left, Rusty and Brett McLain with McLain Farms receive the Grower of the Year award from Lee Lancaster with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Bob Stafford, manager of the Vidalia Onion Committee.

10

Onion World • May/June 2019

David Newton and Kim Strawn with SGE attend the banquet.

Grower of the Year Grower of the Year

Vidalia Grower of the Year for 2018, McLain Farms, also won the award in 2014. Run by brothers Brett and Rusty McLain, Brett gives the credit for McLain Farms’ success to his staff. The McLain family and their employees filled three tables at the ceremony.

“The Grower of the Year award is truly a team effort,” Brett said. “I could never accomplish what we have done on my own. It’s an honor to stand out and be

recognized when there are so many good growers in this industry.”

Brett dedicated the award to his father, James, also a recipient of the Grower of the Year award, who passed away last year.

The emphasis of the award is on quality and production, and Brett said the 2019 harvest is looking really good.

For more information about McLain Farms, see the feature story in this issue and check out TheOnionPodcast.com.

Cliff Riner with G&R Farms and Chelsea Blaxton with the Vidalia Onion Committee catch up during the annual meeting.

Jan Slot with Bejo, Kayce and Mitchell Herring with Seedway LLC and Jorge Jimenez with Bejo await the presentation of awards.

Megan Haygood and Dianne Stanley visit before dinner.

Expect More Than Great Seed

OnionWorld.net

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Perspective From Down Under

By Dan Drost, Utah State University

T

he New Zealand onion industry and onion bulb variability were the highlighted topics covered at the 2019 Utah Onion Association winter meeting held Feb. 12 in Brigham City, Utah.

The growers and industry representatives at this year’s meeting had opportunities to inspect the 2018 onion variety trial results,

meet with participating vendors and hear several prepared presentations.

Allium Leafminer

Dan Drost, Utah State University (USU) vegetable specialist, reported that 2018 was “a very good onion growing year, and yield and quality results from our cultivar trials

show how well the onion lines evaluated performed.”

After describing the details around the trials, Drost went on with a brief overview of the onion research meetings held in Kennewick, Washington, in November 2018. Drost reported that the Allium leafminer found in Pennsylvania was starting to spread. While this leafminer has not been found in the western U.S., both Drost and Claudia Nischwitz, USU extension pathologist, asked growers to watch out for any leafminers found in their production fields in 2019. If growers notice any leafminers, they are asked to report them so USU can collect and identify the species and note their abundance.

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Drost then introduced Bruce Searle, a senior scientist from Plant and Food Research, New Zealand. Searle shared two presentations, with the first describing the New Zealand onion industry. He said that onions are one of New Zealand’s most important vegetable crops, with a value of NZ$85 million and more than 12,000 acres grown each year.

He highlighted the key challenges faced by the New Zealand growers. First, growing onions poses new production challenges that growers need to tackle each year. These include new environmental regulations, loss of protection products and ensuring productivity is “robust, consistent and of high quality.” Searle then noted that since 90 percent of the crop is exported, growers need to grow new markets, maintain existing markets and ensure the product grown is sustainable and meets the market specifications set by the importing countries.

Onion World • May/June 2019

In his second presentation, Searle summarized research efforts to identify and address “the causes of variability in onion crops and the tools needed to monitor, map and quantify growth and yield variability.” He illustrated that under optimal conditions, bulb size varies (thus

yield varies) widely in the field and, on average, has a coefficient of variability of 38 percent.

He then introduced the concept of V for variability. He stated, “V tries to identify all those things that can introduce variability, starting with seed (bottom of the V) and ending with how the crop is managed (open top end of V).” In fields that have high yield, variability is generally low.

“We’re trying to see where variability starts and how to better manage fields so yields are more consistent,” he said.

Searle told the audience that the research team initially thought that variation in emergence was a large contributor to yield variations. However, his research showed that emergence only accounted for 31 percent of yield variation, while the growth rate of individual plants in the field caused yield to vary by more than 60 percent, adding that he was surprised by these two findings.

First, even when seeds emerged on the same day, final bulb weight varied from 50 grams up to more than 300 grams.

This suggests that even in hybrid seed lots, there are real differences between each individual seed. Second, other things happen during the year that further impact plant growth and contribute to yield variability. Plants respond to soil variation (EC, compaction, nutrients, water, etc.), environmental influences (cold, heat) and pest pressures (insects, diseases, weeds), which results in more variation in growth.

“If we can identify the things that influence variability early enough in the production season, we may be able to correct some of the field problems and improve crop performance,” Searle stated.

NOA Introduction

The meeting ended with the introduction of Greg Yielding, the new executive vice president of the National Onion Association (NOA). Yielding took a few minutes to outline his vision for the NOA and encourage growers to participate in NOA activities.

Next up, the Utah Onion Association’s summer field day will take place in Davis and Weber counties.

Greg Yielding, executive vice president of the National Onion Association; Bruce Searle, a senior scientist from Plant and Food Research, New Zealand; and Dan Drost, a vegetable specialist with Utah State University, gather to speak at the Utah Onion Association winter meeting.

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NOA Makes Impression in DC

By René Hardwick, Public and Industry Relations Director, National Onion Association

W

ith all of the regulatory and legislative issues ongoing in Washington D.C., it’s a good thing the National Onion Association (NOA) sent a strong team to town in February. A group of seven went to the nation’s capital armed with some major talking points to improve the onion world.

Call it power in numbers.

The team consisted of Greg Yielding, NOA executive vice president and chief executive; Wayne Mininger, outgoing executive vice president; Doug Stanley, president; Doug Bulgrin, vice president; Kay Riley, NOA trustee; Dell Winegar, president of the Idaho Onion Growers Association; and Barry Vculek, NOA trustee.

The team held 32 meetings in the span of three days to discuss the finer points of onion pests, research and transportation issues plaguing the onion industry, as well as issues involving the Foreign Supplier Verification Program within the Food Safety Modernization Act, continued support for the Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4) and barriers to trade. Discussion also included support for a guest worker program and the implementation of the United States-

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Onion World • May/June 2019

Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Yielding wanted to bring a large group to D.C. to make more of an impact.

“The best people to represent the NOA are not just me, but growers and shippers,” Yielding said. “They’ve got to make the trip. We need growers from every growing area making the trip. Those growers are constituents of legislators all over the country, so it’s very important.”

“People need to get it into their minds that they don’t want to be talking about some regulation or some law that’s affecting their business after the fact,” Yielding said. “They’re going to have to get engaged before it happens. And we will coordinate getting everyone engaged, but we need the people to be a part of that.”

Yielding said it’s important for the NOA membership to stay vocal throughout the year.

“The good thing about onions is we’re commercially grown in 25 states, so we should have a lot of power. We need to use that,” he noted.

One major point Yielding and NOA leaders will continue to emphasize is a growing concern about federal monitoring

and regulation of invasive species.

By far, the biggest talking point on this trip – and one that will be a part of the discussions moving forward – was about the Allium leafminer, an invasive pest that has plagued several European countries since the late 1800s and has invaded five New England states since late 2015. This marks the first time for the bug in the Western Hemisphere.

While it has embedded itself into five states, the leafminer is by no means under control. In fact, it’s not even on the list of pests to look for at docks and ports of ships coming in. If left uncontrolled, it could wreak havoc on America’s onion and garlic fields for years to come, mimicking the fate of Europe.

“I think the leafminer is by far the most important thing we need to get our arms around and keep it from spreading and hopefully come up with a way to eradicate it,” Yielding said.

In the meetings, the team was armed with bags of onions and recipe bookmarks to make a longer lasting impression.

“The onions were very well-received,” Yielding said.

A team from the National Onion Association gathers in Washington D.C. in February to talk with lawmakers and agency leaders about issues important to the onion industry. Pictured (from left) are: Greg Yielding, NOA executive vice president; Dell Winegar, Idaho Onion Growers Association president; Doug Bulgrin, NOA vice president; Kay Riley, NOA trustee; Barry Vculek, NOA trustee; Doug Stanley, NOA president; Wayne Mininger, outgoing NOA executive vice president.

NOA’s Main Issues in DC Trade: Trade is very important to the onion industry. While currently at 7 percent of the crop, we are working hard to increase exports. NOA supports trade agreements that are fair to U.S. producers.

• NOA urges policymakers to approve the USMCA. Canada and Mexico are leading export markets for U.S. onions.

• A Taiwan trade agreement is needed. Taiwan enforces maximum residue limits (MRLs) on onions that are very difficult to adhere to. Taiwan MRLs are lower than CODEX and certainly lower than U.S. standards.

Market Access: NOA supports full funding of Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs.

Immigration: NOA supports immigration reform that will provide access to a legal and consistent agriculture workforce.

• Farmers and shippers/packers need a reliable and dependable skilled workforce.

• Agriculture work is challenging and often seasonal with transit labor needed.

• More often than not, we cannot find American workers to work in agriculture.

• There is an urgent need for Congress to pass responsible immigration reform that addresses agriculture’s current

experienced workforce and creates a new guest worker program.

Transportation: NOA supports the DRIVE Act to change the minimum age to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from 21 to 18. With a proper program and required training, such a change in this law could increase the number of available and much-needed truck drivers.

Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4): NOA strongly supports the IR-4 program and its continued funding.

Without this vital program, it would be next to impossible to collect the data necessary to get chemicals approved to safeguard specialty crops such as onions.

Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP): NOA is meeting with FDA and USDA to discuss the FSVP. This program places the same regulations on imported crops as are enforced on U.S. growers. NOA has serious doubts whether the rules are being enforced equally on these imports.

When invasive plants and species are found in imported crops, the NOA advocates that states should not be the sole sources to identify, interdict and quarantine. This is a federal government responsibility. For example, Allium leafminer was found in the U.S. in December 2015; it was the first confirmed infestation in the Western Hemisphere from its origins in Europe. Damaging pests such as the leafminer must be stopped at the ports of entry. The Allium leafminer (Phytomyza gymnostoma) is capable of severely infesting almost 100 percent of a crop. This pest could easily cost U.S. onion producers millions of dollars.

NASS onion reporting: NOA supports more funding for NASS to improve its reporting of the U.S. onion crop statistics.

Greg Yielding, Doug Bulgrin and Barry Vculek talk trade in one of 32 meetings the National Onion Association delegates held during their annual trip to Washington D.C.

OnionWorld.net

15

Post-Harvest protection for your onions

Calendar June 10-12

United Fresh 2019 Chicago, Ill. www.unitedfresh.org

July 10

Malheur Experiment Station Summer Farm Festival (208) 356-7800 • GroupAg.com

595 Onion Ave., Ontario, Ore. Janet Jones, (541) 889-2174 janet.jones@oregonstate.edu

July 24-27

2019 International Allium Conference

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National Onion Association, National Allium Research Conference, International Allium Research Symposium Madison Concourse Hotel Madison, Wisc. www.onions-usa.org

Aug. 29

WSU Onion Field Day

L&L Farms, Connell, Wash.

Tim Waters, (509) 545-3511 twaters@wsu.edu

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Miss Scarlet A productive red short day hybrid to start your season with.

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Red Sea A flexible red intermediate day hybrid with an attractive deep red color.

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Attention: This information and any complementary/other verbal or written information that may be given on behalf of Hazera present average results of specific trials; these are neither exhaustive nor necessarily accurate and may not be regarded as advice, guidance, recommendation, representation or warranty.

Sowing times and growing areas are indicative only. Pictures are illustrative only. The sale & use of seeds are subject to the terms and conditions appearing collectively on seed packages and in catalogues and/or at: http://www.hazera.com/terms-and-conditions. E&OE. © Hazera 2019. All rights reserved.

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Onion World • May/June 2019

Macro Plastics Adds New Bins

Macro Plastics has two new bins on the market this year.

The Hybrid 1012 and 1212 are billed as the company’s most versatile bins and are designed to be highly ventilated to maximize airflow and cool onions quickly.

Macro Plastics bins feature an innovative perimeter geometry designed to keep the walls from bowing out, as well as tapered walls that prevent one bin from crashing against the walls of an adjacent bin. This “bruise buffer zone” is said to protect produce from damage during transport and in the field. The bins feature removable columns and bases which allow for significantly reduced delivery costs because the empty plastic bins can be nested when shipped.

Visit www.macroplastics.com.

In the News

AMVAC Parent Company Celebrates 50 Years

American Vanguard Corporation, parent company to AMVAC Chemical Corporation, is celebrating 50 years in business. American Vanguard Corporation started in 1969 as a regional contract manufacturer of agricultural chemicals and has grown over the last five decades to a fully integrated producer of branded specialty products.

The corporation is the holding company for eight umbrella brands, including AMVAC, which develops, manufactures and markets agricultural and commercial products for crop protection, among other uses. AMVAC operates four manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Future plans include expansion through acquisitions and organic growth, according to AMVAC.

New Campaign Promotes 2019 Vidalia Onions

With Vidalia onions arriving in stores at the end of April, a new marketing campaign for the sweet onions is underway.

Vidalia growers began packing onions on April 22. The official pack date for each year’s crop is based on soil and weather conditions in southern Georgia during the growing season and is meant to protect the Vidalia brand by keeping immature onions off the market.

To promote this year’s crop, the Vidalia Onion Committee launched “The Sweet Life,” a new marketing campaign to reach home cooks across the country. The campaign targets grocery shoppers who enjoy cooking and entertaining. The goal is to elevate the brand as a signifier of good taste and living well.

Fox Solutions Adds to the Team

Fox Solutions has hired Thomas Summers as a California-based regional sales representative. Summers brings nearly 30 years of industry experience and a background in packaging equipment sales, service and support.

Fox Solutions specializes in customized equipment solutions for fresh produce shippers. The company is headquartered in McAllen, Texas, with additional offices in Lockport, New York.

Manufacturers of innovative flexible packaging solutions that streamline operations and extend onion shelf-life. www.foxbag.com | (956) 682-6176 June 10-12 | Chicago, IL | Booth #6012

OnionWorld.net

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AMERICAN Takii Short- and intermediate-day varieties Rio Dulce

301 Natividad Rd. Salinas, CA 93906 Phone: (831) 443-4901 www.takii.com info@takii.com

Hi-Keeper

Hi-Keeper is an intermediate, overwintering-type jumbo onion with medium maturity. It has a globe shape and is jumbo sized, averaging 11 ounces (320 grams). Growing vigorously with good long-term storage ability, Hi-Keeper is best suited for storage markets.

Rio Dulce

Rio Dulce is a mid-early, short-day onion with mild flavor. It has strong roots, a high tolerance to pink root and good single centers. Bulbs are firm and have a flattened-globe shape.

T-448

Superex

T-448 is an intermediate, overwinteringtype onion with good sizing – mostly colossal (3.5 to 4 inches in diameter) – and firm bulbs. It expresses refined, uniform globe-shaped bulbs with strong root systems and good bolting tolerance.

The skin quality of T-448 is excellent, and small necks allow for good curing.

It is well suited for fresh and process markets in the Pacific Northwest’s Columbia Basin.

Superex

Superex is an early, short-day onion suited for tropic and sub-tropic climates. Jumbosized bulbs are firm, flattened-globe in shape with brown-yellow skin. Lab analysis puts Superex within the Vidalia Superior Onion Flavors standards. The variety is best for the fresh market.

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18

Onion World • May/June 2019

Onion World Ad

T-448

Bejo Short- and intermediate-day varieties Red Duke F1

Alison

Macon Pirate F1

Red Hunter F1

1972 Silver Spur Place Oceano, CA 93445 Phone: (805) 473-2199 www.bejoseeds.com info@bejoseeds.com

Alison

Alison is a late-maturing short-day onion with light skin and bolting resistance.

The variety is very uniform and works well in New Mexico.

Pirate F1

Pirate, a main-season short-day sweet Granex-type onion developed for the Vidalia market, boasts a high percentage of jumbos with good pink root resistance.

Red Hunter F1

Red Hunter is a short-day red onion with good bulb size and low pungency. Its deep red color extends to the center rings. The variety is well adapted to the southern U.S. and overwinter production.

Red Duke F1

Red Duke is well suited for the Southeast.

It is a late- to main-season short-day variety. The onion is a flat Granex-type with deep red skins and crisp red color throughout the interior. It has very low pungency.

Macon

Macon is a short-day onion introduced

by Bejo for the late-season maturity slot. The variety is high yielding with a deeper Granex shape, excellent uniformity, strong tops, and sweet and mild flavor. It performs well in the Vidalia area.

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CROOKHAM Short- and intermediate-day varieties P.O. Box 520 301 Warehouse Caldwell, ID 83606-0520 Phone: (208) 459-7451 www.crookham.com ccoinfo@crookham.com

Merlin

Merlin is an early- to main-season shortday yellow variety that produces a firm, uniform bulb. It has the Celebrate plant structure to give it an extra boost against stress and make it grower friendly. These qualities help make it a good fit for a short-day program. The variety has high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting.

Red Rock

Red Rock demonstrates good size with excellent internal dark red color and a good single center percentage. Red Rock has a very good red scale and produces a nice firm bulb that can be stored several months. It has high tolerance to bolting and good tolerance to pink root and Fusarium.

Vanguard

Vanguard is a productive main-season intermediate yellow variety. Vanguard produces jumbo to colossal size, bronzecolored, uniform bulbs that make it an option for processing or for fresh market.

It has high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting.

Great White

Great White has great yield potential for its maturity of 103 - 105 days. It has an attractive and luminescent white package with a high rate of single centers. Being a Celebrate Onion, Great White’s structure and strong roots make it a grower-friendly intermediate option. The variety has high tolerance to pink root and Fusarium and is tolerant to bolting.

Merlin

Vanguard Red Rock

Great White

Avenger

Avenger is a very consistent producer of single centers and uniform, well-shaped bulbs. It is known as a good early yielder that finishes with a nice rich bronze skin. It has high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting.

White Ace

White Ace is a consistent short-day onion with a good yield potential and a classic white skin with a high percentage of single centers. The variety has high tolerance to pink root and Fusarium.

Avenger White Ace

DP seeds Short- and intermediate-day varieties Rio Rojo F1

Cherry Mountain F1

DP Sweet F1

Diamond Swan F1

Pumba F1

Sapelo Sweet F1

8269 E. US Hwy. 95 Yuma, AZ 85365 Phone: (928) 341-8494 www.dpseeds.com info@dpseeds.com

Cherry Mountain F1

Cherry Mountain F1 is a large, brilliant colored, dark red Grano onion with excellent storage capabilities. This variety produces round bulbs that are uniform in shape with a refined neck. The variety is highly single centered and ideal for the fresh market. Plant in early spring.

Diamond Swan F1

Diamond Swan F1 is an early variety with good storage capabilities. This variety features a round, very white bulb with a refined neck and is highly single centered.

DP Sweet F1

DP Sweet F1 features a round shape with a small neck and firm bulb weighing 250-300 grams. It is a very early variety with good flavor and is resistant to downy mildew and bolting.

Sapelo Sweet F1

Sapelo Sweet F1 is a hybrid, short-day onion of mid-maturity. This onion seed variety produces bulbs of 2-to-1 ratio with a high percentage of jumbo size, making it one of DP Seeds’ highest yielding onions.

Tops are dark green with seven to eight leaves, and with two skins, Sapelo Sweet F1 is good for CA storage. The variety has moderate tolerance to pink root.

Rio Rojo F1

Rio Rojo F1 is jumbo-sized with a flattened-globe shape. The variety features mid-early maturity and stores well. It is suitable for direct sowing and transplanting. It has good bolting tolerance and strong field adaptation under various climates and soil conditions and is strong against drought.

Pumba F1

Pumba F1 is a hybrid, short-day yellow Grano-type onion that produces high yields with an excellent shelf life. With uniform shape and good sunburn protection, Pumba F1 is normally a mid-late maturity that produces large size onions. It has medium tolerance to pink root.

OnionWorld.net

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Enza zAden Short- and intermediate-day varieties Madalyn F1

Francesca F1

Gabriella F1

Cabernet F1

Canarana F1

Francesca F1

Francesca is a mid-to-late short-day variety with tolerance to pink root rot and strong tops. Its exceptional bulb firmness makes this variety suited for mechanical harvest. Bulbs are approximately 3 inches, globe shaped and uniform.

Gabriella F1

The uniform bulbs of Gabriella have a mild to sweet flavor and an attractive globe shape. The variety is for fresh market and short-term storage.

Monastrell

Madalyn F1

Madalyn is an early-to-mid short-day onion. It produces globe-shaped, bronzecolored bulbs between 2.4 and 4.3 inches.

Canarana F1

Canarana offers a strong foliage cover and a strong root system. The variety is recommended for California and northern Texas.

Javier Russek, Product Specialist, Onions Phone: (831) 240-5736 www.enzazaden.us j.russek@enzazaden.com

Cabernet F1

With a vigorous plant habit, Cabernet produces uniform globe-shaped bulbs of outstanding holding ability and high quality. Typical harvest is July through August, offering earliness and firmness.

Monastrell

Monastrell is an intermediate-day onion that boasts high quality, single-centered bulbs. Bulbs are uniform and resistant to sun scald in the field. With bulbs averaging 3.5 to 4 inches, the variety is recommended for fresh market.

22

Onion World • May/June 2019

hazera Short- and intermediate-day varieties 6601 Lyons Road Suite H-10 Coconut Creek, FL 33073 Phone: (954) 429- 9445 www.hazera.com info@hazera.us.com

Miss Scarlett

This red short-day hybrid is productive and matures early. The internal coloration will start early, making Miss Scarlett very suitable for the early-main red onion market. Vigorous, erect green tops will contribute to an excellent production.

NEW! 10255 (Joelino*)

This new vigorous main-season yellow short-day onion will help growers through the season by producing quality onion bulbs. This onion has proven itself in many areas and shown a high tolerance to pink root. It will produce firm, globe-shaped bulbs with strong skins. *name pending approval

Red Sea

A very attractive and productive intermediate-day red hybrid, Red Sea is a flexible variety and delivers a beautiful dark red color. Internally, Red Sea has an early, deep red coloration. This hybrid will produce firm, flattened-globe-shaped bulbs with a trim neck.

Miss Scarlett

Red Sea

10255 (Joelino*)

It’s time to celebrate!

Kerian

SPEED SIZER

“A more gentle way to size your onions quickly and accurately.”

Proven for use in: Whites, Reds, Golds, Browns, Spanish, Pearl Onions & More Onion Sizing Video Now Available:

www.kerian.com

GENTLE: Separates without damaging onions ACCURATE: Precisely grades onions of all shapes and varieties FAST: Thirteen standard models custom-designed to meet your needs sort from 1000 lb/hr to 80,000 lb/hr SIMPLE: Effective but simple design provides a rugged, low cost, low maintenance machine at a high value to our customers.

It can even be used in the field!

National Onion Day, June 27 Help celebrate this momentous occasion with a day full of onions! www.onions-usa.org

Kerian Machines inc.

1709 Hwy 81 S, PO Box 311, Grafton, ND USA 58237

701-352-0480 • sales@kerian.com Fax 701-352-3776

OnionWorld.net

23

Nunhems Short- and intermediate-day varieties NUN 6005

Sofire

1200 Anderson Corner Rd. Parma, ID 83660 Phone: (800) 733-9505 www.nunhems.com

Vulkana

NUN 6005

of cilities w in ce

NUN 6005 is a mid-season intermediateday red onion. It is globe shaped with excellent internal and external color. The variety has very good bolting tolerance and is a strong yielder. The hybrid produces firm bulbs with a trim neck and mild flavor. 3.6 million pounds of onions were Approximately in this Champion Produce storage facility when the roof caved in. Photo courtesy Champion Produce

Sofire

Sofire is an early short-day red onion. It is the earliest red in the market at a 145 - 155 day maturity. The variety produces rounded Grano-shaped bulbs that are uniform in shape with good internal and external color. It has excellent bolting tolerance and high pink root resistance with its strong, vigorous root system as well as strong, healthy tops.

Vulkana

Vulkana is a very early short-day yellow variety with a 140 - 150 day maturity. The variety produces round Grano-shape bulbs with high pink root resistance. It’s a good yielder for the early market. The variety has very good uniformity of shape and size.

Dulciana

Dulciana

Edp Electro-bagger model AB-2110-DF

This model now has the ability to do bags as well as cartons with the new touch screen controls. It also comes with pneumatic bag clamps as standard equipment

For information contact: Gary Loewe: 800-219-2245 or (208) 331-1126 Fax: (208) 331-1264 chinookequipment@gmail.com www.chinookequipment.com

24

Onion World • May/June 2019

Dulciana is an early short-day yellow onion at a 150 - 160 day maturity. Round Grano-shape bulbs have a very mild flavor profile. The variety has very good bolting tolerance and high pink root resistance. It is a strong yielder for the early mild yellow segment.

Don Victor

Don Victor is a main-season short-day yellow onion with a 170 - 180 day maturity. Bulbs are globe shape. It is a highly adaptable and very uniform variety.

The variety is a high performer year after year with high yields. It also has excellent bolting tolerance and high pink root resistance.

Don Victor

Sakata Short- and intermediate-day varieties Great Western

18095 Serene Drive Morgan Hill, CA 95037 Phone: (408) 778-7758 www.sakatavegetables.com vegetables@sakata.com

Great Western

Great Western is a grower-friendly, mainseason yellow intermediate onion with good pink root tolerance. It can be grown in all intermediate growing areas including the Pacific Northwest and Colorado. Great Western has good firmness with good skin retention. It will cut a high percentage of single centers and can be direct seeded or transplanted. This good-yielding variety has strong plant growth with sizes that range from colossal to jumbo.

Spanish Medallion

Spanish Medallion is a late intermediate yellow that transitions into the long-day Spanish types. It has firmness, consistent yields and excellent skin retention. This variety has a globe shape with sizes that range from colossal to jumbo. It cuts a high percentage of single centers. In the Pacific Northwest and Colorado, it is a true intermediate. In California and New Mexico, it is a good transitional variety.

Spanish Medallion

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www.rietveldequipment.com OnionWorld.net

25

From the NOA

National Onion Day is Just Around the Corner

By René Hardwick, National Onion Association Director of Public and Industry Relations

W

hile there are many worthy days on the calendar, we in the onion industry can now celebrate our own.

National Onion Day is June 27. It’s certainly time to place the onion on the pedestal.

We encourage all to celebrate by challenging your customers, your friends, your family to spend a day with onions — breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, even dessert.

When we tell readers of Onion World that onions are one of the safest vegetables to eat, while keeping those who eat it healthy, we know we’re preaching to the choir. That’s why it’s up to all of us to spread the message beyond the magazines and news outlets or social media — though we need them all.

This is our chance to toot our horn. This day not only celebrates the onion, it celebrates the seed breeders, the implement dealers and salespeople, the farmers, the researchers and all involved in moving the crop from field to table. While the onion represents a farm gate value of $1.8 billion, it is a good $7 billion - $9 billion in the marketplace.

We chose June 27 to celebrate National Onion Day because that is the day the National Onion Association (NOA) was

incorporated in 1913. Now in our 106th year, the NOA continues to work on behalf of all its members across the country who want a sound industry that continues to thrive. A growing onion consumption will do just that.

What can you do? Encourage those you know to celebrate the day with you. Eat onions. Try all varieties and spread them throughout the day. Have an onion dinner party, and pack it with onion dishes. See how many red, white and yellow onions you can incorporate in your daily eating.

How about a healthy Chipotle Egg Breakfast Sandwich to start your day, or perhaps a Spicy Onion Panini or French Onion Soup for lunch? Maybe a little Creamy Onion Dip for an appetizer?

How about a dinner of Pasta Primavera with Caramelized Onions or Garden-style Fish with Onions and Bell Peppers? Visit the NOA website at www.onions-usa.org for these and more recipes to inspire you. If you’re adventurous, try some Vidalia Onion and Georgia Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies (see recipe below) for dessert.

Don’t worry about overeating this phenom of Mother Nature.

One onion – Nature’s Ninja – contains 20 percent of your daily Vitamin C needs and 12 percent of your fiber needs. And don’t forget, it’s naturally sodium-, fat- and cholesterol-free and only 64 calories per one-cup serving.

Can you do it? Can you take on the challenge of a day full of onions? Ditch the breath mints and go all in to celebrate National Onion Day on June 27.

Vidalia Onion and Georgia Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened ½ cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1½ teaspoons vanilla 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp fine salt 1 tsp baking soda 12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup Georgia Pecans, chopped 1 cup Vidalia onion, diced small Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter, add sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add flour, salt and soda, and mix until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.

Rinse the Vidalia onion with ice water and drain well. Fold the onions into the dough to blend. Drop dough by large spoonfuls on a parchment or wax-paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and enjoy immediately. These are meant to be eaten warm; if you want to keep them past the day you make them, add some dried cranberries to the batter to absorb some of the moisture.

26

Onion World • May/June 2019

calcium at your service

Calcium is a secondary plant nutrient that plays a major role in onion development and internal bulb quality. In-season calcium applications maximize crop potential and minimize yield losses due to mishandling and shrinkage in storage.

CaTs® from Crop Vitality™ can supply your crop with essential calcium and sulfur when and where you need it. The efficient liquid formulation delivers 100% soluble calcium and sulfur immediately available for plant uptake. Ensure your onions receive critical nutrients with an in-season application of CaTs.

Crop Vitality Specialists can provide assistance regarding application, blending, field studies and technical data.

Learn more about CaTs at cropvitality.com

Start a Conversation today with Your Call

(800) 525-2803,

email

Crop Vitality Specialist

info@cropvitality.com

or visit

CropVitality.com

©2019 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved. CaTs ® is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.

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ONION SEED

EQUIPMENT

Bejo Seeds Inc.

Chinook Equipment, Inc.

Crookham

Clearwater Supply, Inc.

Enza Zaden

Fox Packaging

Gowan Seed

Fox Solutions

Germains

Gearmore Inc.

Hazera

Greentronics

Seedway

Kerian Machines, Inc. Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc

MISCELLANEOUS National Onion Association TheOnionPodcast.com

Crop Inputs

Redwood Empire Awning Company South Georgia Equipment Univerco

Oro Agri

STORAGE

Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.

Group Ag