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MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS"I~63A

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Tcchaical Bulletin 1\'0. 555 April 1937

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

WASHINGTON, D. C.

MARKETING ONIONS 1

(:()N"'I~N'I'S

l'lIgo Producing n'l!lotls_ _....... ~ +.,. ~..... _ Dcscription of rilY onion IlInrk~t~ -." 52 .\rren~e, ~'teld, und productinn.. __ _ 2 Uo~ton. _ ., 5'.!

VlIriNiesllud types. __ ._., _,. __ _ New York . .

lJes~dl1lilll1 of important onimt ar'~HS "nll ,Ii, " Philadt'lphin _~ .. __ ~ .. ~ ....... 55

tricu'~""'~' ~ .... ~ _... ~ ... ~ _~ ..._~ __ o Bllltimore 56 Enrl)' and. interuwdiulQ ernps_ Ii Pit lSPurgh_ 50 Lato crop, .. ___ ., __ '"'''' . 10 lJetrllit. . 5i

Ilon'eSting. __ ... , ... __ ....... ___ . Ii. ('Ievl~hllld 58 Orndin!(, sizln~. lind pnckill!( , Ii Cinclnnllti , ",, ___ , 51) [;cdernltHnio tn~pel'lio'L__ 21 rlhicll~O_ . 50 Landing cars lind trnnsportillioll ~a Bt. Louis _ 1i0 SIQrngo und shrinlmgo. ____ . Kamms CHr. til }'jnun('in!( tho crOJl.. ____ ' _ i\lillnollpolis ~ f}2 ~felltotls of suI!) ill pro\tnrketillforlllution. ______ . ____ _ New Orlelllls .__ _ no >vl0lhods of shiplllent . _. Fort Worth __ ,. ... 0:1

{'u(lut and huut shipments. Denycr__ ~ ~_. __ ~ __ O;j lI[olortruck shiplllonts.. .. :m Los Angeles __ __ fl-!

lIfo\'clllont by ni/lIlths.... _... . _ all Bnn FnlllciscC)... 6fi Distrihution of shipments lind slJun'o nnd \'ul SeaUle._ ".__ . . ____ .._._ .... ,_ \\5

111110 of mnrket supplles_ . __ .... an Prices in produrlng districts. '''''''''''''' !iti"Foreign trndu ..____ . __ ' _ __ . . .. . . __ 'iii Oii.Y-ll1llrimt price~___ .~ __ .. __ .... ________ .. __ .. 74SUll1ll1ary_. _______________________________ __ Ht.i_\l~tltods und chtlnl1cls of city 1IIl1rkti. dislrihu

tlOll ________________ ~____ .... ____ ~ .... ~ ... _ !10

PRODUCING REGIONS

OliiOlln arc among tbe leading vegetable crops of the United States. COllllllor('in,l production for 1931-35 ayeragecl about 1,300,000,000 poumh"ol' slightly more than 10 pounds pel' capita, and the crop bad. Ill) HYel'llge farm value of about $14,000,000.

Onions were grown commercially in 23 States according to the official estima.tes for the 1935 crop. Four States, New York, Texas, :Mi('lugall, and California, produced slightly more thall lullf of the N n.tion'8 (,I'Op; and tllCse four States, togetbel' with :five others, Idaho, Colot'lldo, :Mllssachusetts, :Minnesota, and Iudiana, produced slightly mol'c thnn tlu'ee-fourths of the total United States erop,

.1 Hcprescntulivcs of tho Hnrcau hn\'c contrllllltct1much information used in this bulletin relnting to citylUllrkols and prndllcill~ arens. '.\"\\)UhlT matcri,,1 of s,wcml divisions of U", Bureau hus hoou nsod1 SOUlO inforlllntiOl, frolll enrlier publicatirHls Ilf the Durenll-'})epart.mcnt Dullet.in 1:12.1, l'vrnrkcting Onians, and DOllnrtmcm_ Hulletin 12li:l, 'l'he :Marketing and Distribntion of Americnn (lrown 130rtlllldn Onions-is included. 'l'ilis iJuliClin docs net tlenl with green or hunched onions.

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2 'l'ECHNICAL BULLETIN 555, U. S. DEJPT. OF AGRICUL'l'URE

A Inrg~ pa!'t 9f tb;e oni~" crop is grown in a limit~d number of commercull (bstrJCts ill the" vnl'lOUS States (fiV. 1). Omons produced in the South Atlantic and East South Oentral States are not important in the nationnI supply. In this respeet, onions differ from most other '.'egetltbie crops.

OommereinJly, the onion crop is classed aR early, intermediate, and IlLte, accol'{iing to the time it moves to ml1rket. The early crop, which is mostly produced ill southern Texas, southern Oalifol'llia, and Louisiana, is marketed mainly in April and :May. A large part of t.he intermediate crop goes to market in .June and July. The llLte crop is marketed mORtly from Augnst to :March, inclusive, and is diyided into enstem, central, and western, in nccordance with the

ONIONS GROWN FOR SALE

}'IGI'ln; l.-C'ollllllercini onion :)foductlon is largely centrnlized ill about 20 districts in yariou< tilntes,

regions of prod uetion. There is some overlapping in time of movement to market nll10ng tbe enrly, intermediate, and late crops. .

ACREAGE, YIELD, AND PRODUCTION

TIle COllI.IllClTinl onion ncrenge of the United States, nceording to estimates of the Bureau of Agricultural Eeonomics, has increased from IlU average of Itbout 69,000 UCTes in the period 1918-;-22 to un uyerage of nbout 87,000 ueres ill 1931-35. In the latter pm'lOd about 27 percent of tbe aereuge wus devoted to the early crop, 13 percent to the intermediate crop, and 60pet'cent to the lnte crop. Of the late-crop Ilercage, slightly Jess tl1l1l1 one-fourt.h wus in the tIu'ee eastern late States, .Mnss!lehusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania.; slightly less than one-half wns in the celltml lu.te Stutes, Ohio, Indianu, Illinois, J\1ichigall, 'Wisconsin, :Minnesotu, and pru't of Iowu.; and more than one-fourth wus in In.te-cr0p districts in the western In.te States, Idaho, Oolorado, Utah, Nevada, 'Wnshington, Oregon, and Oalifornia. From 1926 to 1935, ucrenge fluctuuted from about 76,000 acres in 1926 to about 99,000 acres in 1035. There were ruther lurge fluctuations from yenr to yenr in some instances (table 1).

-----------------------

3 MARKETING ONIONS

T ABLE I.-Acreage in cO'lll1llffn"iol o/l.1:ons b!J Slllle (fro II /Is, .1.926-86

ol\ vcr~ Stille HJld t!roup 1\l~1I 11m 11128 lIJ2!) 1030 JIla I 19:12 1!J;j:J 1113,1 HI:l5 1 ngc.

19:1l-35

------------- -_.---- ------------Early crOll: ..4t:rex ACTe.~ .Acres .Acres Acre8 Acres Acrc.1( Acres Acres Acres Acres

[,ouisinl1l1 ....."., ......... 2,iflO 2,1l0U 2,:llU :;180 1,2110 1,100 1,200 fJOO 1,1100 1,2{)O 1,120 'reslls "" ...... __ ........ 12,500 11,200 18,300 11),700 HI, (JIll IS, ()(lO 21, 21JO 18,00021, 70U Zl, 300 20, HO C'uliroruin.... ..... ... 2.850 a,lIon a,D50 3,.150 2,OflU 1,250 2,~50 1,150 l,81iU 2,050 l,7flO

~'otnl........... . _ 18. IOU IHl UflO 2\, fiUU 2[1, aao 20,22020, aU) 24) 850 to) U50 25) l()U ~!U. 550 2a, alO

-..========== =

Intermedinte crop: ~cw. J~rsey..."" ......... . 2,1)00 2, \lOll 2,700 2, 000 2, 2(X) 2,41lt) :1,000 :1, liOO :1, 500 3,7(JO 3,240 Virglllll1 ................ . HlXI nm filJO iOn fono fino .120 550 nr.o OflO nSO Kentllcky ........... " ""." t, llOO guO SOU IIll0 folO 400 400 :140 :J50 a50 !lIiB Okinhomn.. I, aoo I, :100 2,400 :! 1,007 'rexns (north)".. . i; filll"l Till!) '2,o(ui Ti71) "i,"filii) 'i:iiiii '~,ti(jo I,~OO 2, nllll 31 700 ~ 2J fi02 10wn (Scott Cllllllty) . 780 soO 1,000 1,000 I,OuO I,UflO 1,01iO 1,000 950 \\00 111)0 Wtlshington (\\'nUn \\'lIlill

distrilitl "" I, nOll 1,000 iOO 810 gso 800 illO (1110 UOO 0.10 8H Oalifornia ".""." . " . :I~O n50 i80 S1O 1140 1,100 2, O(X)jl, 150 2,140 2, i50 1,828

'fotn!..."" 8,400 i,750 ll,I80 i,I20 i, (HO 8, 121l11l, :1:1010, 100 12, allo 15,.\O() 1I,OUo -:---===~=======

Lnie crop:J-:ustern!

l\lussnchusetls. "" .. ;1, 4~O -I, IifiO a, fiOO 2, UfiO 2,7:10 2, ,1~O 2,800 at aon :~, 000 :~, 700 a,O{H New york ...... ',f-oO ~,f>:1(l (,,8:10 ',IIUI o,O\KI S,2()O 8,770 S,UOO II,UUO to, 700 \l,05~ PeIlnsylvnniH~., . ltiO ISO 3W :\011) a50 :J50 aoo 2!10 :1:lO 380 :H2

--- ,------' --1------------ 12,180 la. 2110 11,0SO 11.200 11,080 II, OiO II, II:\[) 12,100 12, aao 14,780 12, 160\==-"'i==========Ceutrnl:

Ohlo._" ...."..... _ f.,3(lO i.OOO 0, of>() C.,IIOIl 5,400 5, aoo 5,1-10 4,OtO .I,2()() :1,600 4,5iO Illdillllll "._." ... . S, +10 S,IOO S,51O 8,'1()(l D,120 7, if>() S,580 i, (NIIl 5,lIlO 4,900 O,lItiU lllillois.. ". _..... ~ ~O ~o no 7~ _ 8m ~O ~o ~o ms l\liehi~lln 0"'" . :1. :liO :1,2011 5,O()() 5, iOil n, iOO O,lKlO S, i)iO 7,1100 8,500 12, iOO 8,8i4 Wiseons!!, 1,200 I, (i00 t, lOll IIS0 ti1O 8711 1,2010 1,150 1100 1,IfiU 1,002 1VUnnesotn 1,8iO 2, ISO 1,740 2, lliO 2,OflO 1,000 2, 100 2, zr.o 1,200 :l,200 2, lUO> lown (olller tllnn S~ott

Count),L". 1.600 1,4iO I, il\O I.noo 2,000 I, roOO 1,'100 1,120 700 900 1,12-\

'1'otul.... ". ".. ~2,41iO 24,220 25,400 20,5LO 27t 5no 24,010 !!S.2:m 24,0180 21,000 !W,HOO 25. }()'1 .-- = ----= -------- = Westcrn: .~-0." _ ltlullo . "......... \150 1,000 I, ()(IO 1.000 1, iOO 1,5m 1,000 I, ;';;0 2,:\;)0 2,600 l,Il20

Colomdo _ ". a, iOO 01, :lOU 3.7i10 7,000 fi, (i(}0 4,or>o ii,070 ~, 1.10 4,0140 :~, finO 4, :i72 lHllh .. gOO !JOO 1;(100 1.100 1,200 8()() 1,0011 IklO H50 1,1.10 040 NC\,l\dllo... .. 150 1:\0 ISO 200 liO JiO JOO Hi4 Wushill~lolI (otherthnll

Walln Wnlll\(\lsl.rict) 800 8M 710 8;;0 \lflO IllK) 1,000 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,100 Ore!!oll ... ~ ...... I, lao 1,200 fJ50 I,O-lO 1,080 l,2fHJ .1, aoo 1,11.10 I, HOO 1,850 1,570('uiiCumiu.. _ 7,2(jU 5,170 ii,:UlO II, QIO 0,680 5,:mo D,Ii.JO 4, .1:10 :1,2110 4,700 4,1186

'I'otnl." ,, __.. 101,IHO 14, :I:JO 12, no Ii, 180 Ii, :J~O 13,OSO lfl, 410 13.050 14, (];O 15,350 14,7,12 ========== 'l'utnlltHc crop. 0111, 2iO 51,810 4i, S(lO 5-1,800 55,!l80 'III, 0001.16. [.70 .,0, U20 4i, 400 .ii,030 52,316

__~_l'lIilCd Rtntes lotnl . __ 75, 7.~~ 7~,"6_101fill.8.W ~~I~~~!~~f8~~ , Prcliminury.

~ ayenr u \'crnge..

~ 'l'otnl of tho uveruges, but- not Illl tlverngc of the. totals gh'cn for l\):H-~\r).

Yields pel' 11(,l'e iol' the l'\llrly ('I'OP 1111ye been JI1uel1lt'ss than for the intermediate and ltttc crops find u\'ernged about 81 sacks of 100 pounds ench in 1931-35. ]i'01' theintennediate crop, the corresponding figure was 152 stLcks; :for the late enstel'll crop, 228 slleks; for the late central crop, 144 sacka; and io[' the late western c['Op, 205 sacks (tables 1 and 2).

Commercial oruon production from 1920-35 IHl.s ranged from 10,649,000 sacks of 100 pounds in 193] to ] 5,530,000 sn,cks in 1932 (tllble 2), The average for 1931-35 WfiS slightly more than 13,000,000 sackso The commel'cinl prod uction for this period n vCJ'ngedllbout ] 9 pounds per capitn for the urball pop ulutiori.

4 'I'ECHNICAL BULLE~I'IN ii:iii, U. S. DEPT. OF AOmCUL'J'URE

'j',IIILfl 2.-Proci'ltcl'ion oj commercial ()nion,~ by Slate gr01q)S, /926-85

I I~\ \'crStnl.c nnd group l\I~n 1!I~7 l\I~H 11.2\1 JlJ:lU rU:JJ W:l2 lII:m 10:l-1 lIIar. I nge,-------------------!---I--___!I~

Ellrly cron: s~,~, s:.'~f~, ,,{z'~f{j, ,,~':::' ,,~z',r:, ";'~' ,,;,~'fi, s;z'~,I,,;,;;X/.?l: s;z'~~' ,,{{Iff,Louisinnn ___ ,___ 1 ill 15i 150 142 as 50 48 lSI 07, -111 40 'fexlIs..=............ , l,a,,!) I,OOS 1,77.1, 1,950 1,8110 3 J,i04 2,0781,I70I'I,M2,"I,58'1 1,032(ullforntn .......... ' 102 5111 3494 4al 287 WO -300 107 2(H 2111 21:l

----, ------------------------'rotaL........ __ 1,088 1,810 3 2,.1111 2,52:1 2,185 '1,IlSa '2,4a2 1,:155'I,H:1a 31,852 1,801

Inlermcdinlecrop: =========1==,= New JerSe~', ___ , a:lI 30i 405 280 231 a84 300 540 5UO1 lOa 407 Virginhl. _________ . ,r.1 51 50 Iili :1I 18 20 as 5s1 52 .1[, Kcntuch.-y____ ..._. _. J.l2 r.a 1711 2i !O 84 50 au :10, 421 48 ~~~~~(~~~artiii.-~:::.~: '--isH ---iiiii ----:iiio ---12iJ --jf,ii --22(1 ----325 ~~l. 3~~1 ~fl~ ~~g lawn (Scott County) 110 117 HiO JoIn ISO 1.10 17S I!l(j .I!!', 13,; 119 Wnshingt,llI (Wnlln

'ynlla.dislrict)._.__ 228 2:!S IIH 231 2:J1 1i2 175 152 2!1,IlI' 2()1 205 C'ahforIlla_. ____ ..... , 82 lao 172 2Jo1 2tiH 275 352U' :J15 43.1, "15 :J99

'l'otnl .... _.. __ ........ -1,102 1,O!l1i j,~07 I,OU2 L.I21- It~mO 3,I,on71~~~o 8fjt l -;21~OS ~~I== '======I===i==~,,~

~~

t

IEust.ern: :.\lnssnchusl,l(!'_... IlU" 71}o1 172 6111 (j:,5 5501 700 nil:! HIO 7,10 (jUgNl!wYork~. __ .. _ 1,fifi.1 1,911 72\1 l,,s!)u 2,IHO 1,.183 2,105 2,021 2,'175j 2,3(}U 2,OH7 j1cmnsyhnnin .. ,,_ 2H ~U II!) 53 oHJ 51 50 as 5a; 01 51

']Ol,.tl.',-;;:(: ') '(I{I-1 .) "I '''0- -;;-;-(11 --::;-:-;', ~I"" -;;-::;;;I-,;-=:' ';-;l~l,I'" 101'1' . ....~111 _,' ,_.> _,01 _"." _, no ...,d.l,) _.Il)... ol"'''1 ,1, ! _,0',

C'engm~.....__ .. _- 7i~~,3.J.1 f>~=- oa71 :!=- :!=7:1--~;~':~! ,,:/''--'5,10Inuium!._ .. __ "4. l,.15a It513:l 1, ltit1 J,;~Hn J,\)88 752 II iSHI iiie; 4t-H 1 53U 8fiS lllinois_.. ...... lJfI 115 !Iii 110 10,1 li2 12,1 1111 321 as (j~ ~~!chil!ap ~~ ... _ 7~H 771 77f) 010 J"i7

5 M.ARKETING ONIONS

crop showed a 20-pen'Cllt incl'Cll.sP- in th0 ensLem re~ioll, iL 17-prreent dccJ'rusc in Lho eentl'nl r('~i()ll, und. [L 1-}>(,I'('e11t 111(,1'(1n;;(' in 0](\ w('stCl'Il region.

\Yllcn particular States o/. districts rtfe cOllsidrl'rd, it Is noted that pronounclld upwflrd tl'('nds in production oceun'cd in nortll Texas, the intel'llledlate-cJ'op distri(t in California, New York, '!\lichigan, Iela.ho, fLnd Oregon. Downward trends in production occurred in a number of SUItes, including Louisiann, Indiana, and OhIo.

Y ARIETIES AND TYPES

EfLrly-crop onions from Texas and Californin, tire of the mildfluYored, fbt, Bermudn, tYP0. The Ye]Jow Berm udn. comprises, roughly, SO to 90 percent 01' tbe early crop frolll these States, fLnci tlle Crystnl "White "Vax type of Benlluc/n, onions eompl'ises 1110st of the remainder. A very few Red BerlUudn. onions nre grown. Bermuda onions generally do 110t ke0p well in stOl'llg0, nnd most of them are marketed within fL short time uft0r lllllTesting;. T11e Crystal \'11ite IYax ,'aJ'iet:y is Illl,re ensily jnjul'ed by nHlgh hnnc1Jing anci by miny 01' bot weather than is the Yeliow Berllluda. Tire Creole onions grown in Louisiana. al'e reddish ill coloI'. They are more pungent fLne.! h~ep better th~ln the Red Bermllda.

The B'i'l'llluda-type onion is important in tIle in tel'mediute crop from some Stntes, as Texas und Cnlifornia. Yurious other varieties grown in the late-crop areus are ulso grown in tbe intermediate-crop States.

Late-crop onions whieh nre llUll'k(lted mainly from August through '!\hl'cb il1t']ucle lL mnnb01' of vUlieties und mi\:tul'es of ya.rieties. The yellow globe type is widely grown in tlle Korth Atlantic, North Central, nnt! ",'reste]']) Sta.tes. '1'Lis type hnSfl stronger flavor than the Bermuda type [t.nd has geIH'l'!llly good stoJ'ttge and shipping Cjuulities. encler yellow globe type arc clnss0c\ n, llUlllbE'l' of varieties fLS Yellow Globe Danvers, Southport Yellow Globe, and Ohio Yellow Globe. Some wllite globe o])ions nre n.lso grown commerciully, hut the qua71tity is much less than the quantity of yellows. Some ollio~s of [t, semiglobe type are produced. TIle In.pn;neso, or Eben0zer, IS populnr ill some of the intermediate- und latc-erop districts. It is u,n l'UrlY-lllfLturing, yellow, ibt type, and is mfi):keted mostly during tIle sun-uner and fnll. Sevcl'Ul other varieties of flat-type yellmv and wllite onions ure produced commercially.

DUling tI10 lust 10 YCUI'S Amel'iC'al1-grown Spunish-type OPiOllS have increased in eommcreial importance. They are produced mostly in the ,r0stel'l.l Stn.tes, a.1tllOugh limited quantities aJ'e grown in other al'NlS. This type pl'ohu.hly eompl'ises, roughly, 15 percent of the entil'e lute Cl'Op. rnlC Spnnish-type onions are. large, mild-flayored, fLnd "with l)l'op

6 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 555, U. S, DEI''!'. OF AGRICULTURE

grouping them as yenows. White onions of the globe nnd semiglobe types nre genernlly quoted in mnrket news reports as whites.

A 11Ulllbel' of other vll,rietics not irwluded in the above clnssificn,tions Ine grown commercilLlly. In the fu,r "Test the Austm.lian Brown is grown in considerable quantities. The Prizetakcr is simi1lLI.' to Spanish onions. TIle Red \'Yethersfield js a flat, red v!tJ'iety grown in ViLl'iOUS areas. Red varieties are of little importance in the total onion supply.

Onions imported from Spnin nre of two types, the Valencin and tlle Denia. The Denia, like the Valencia, is a In,rge yellow onion but is flatter thlLIl the ValenciiL. Imports from Chile firc of two types, the Yalenci[Land a :fln,t type somewhat sill1ilnl' to the Bermuda. Onions J'eceived hom Egypt are of n, yenow lllu'd type and are globo- 01' bottle-shaper! .

DESCRIPTION OF IMPORTANT ONION AREAS AND DISTRICTS

J>ARLY AND INTERMEDIA1'I~ CROI'S

'l'EXAS

Texas is the leading Stnte producing early nncl intermediate crop onions. In totnl volume of onions produced in the 5 year's 19:31-35 Tcxns, with an avemge crop of about 2,000,000 sncks, is sOl'olld only t.o New York. Nearly 90 percent of the Texas acren,ge in the 5 years wus dussed as early crop. A very large part of the Stnte's u.creage is in Bermuda-type onions (table 3). The early crop is produced in t})e southern part of the Stute.

In t.he \Vinter Garden section and adjacent territory, including Zayala, Dimmit, \Vebb, find other nearby counties, the emIl is grown ,mder irrigation; \yhereas in the lower coast country, including Nue('es, \vmncy, SILn PILtr-icio, ILnd other counties, and in Collin County find other intermediate-crop counties in the northern part of the StILte, most of the crop is not il'l'ig!Lted.

In 1932-34" carlot shipments front the \V"inter Garden and adjacent territory avemged u.bout 40 percent of the State's early crop shipments. The lower coast counties in recent years have grown a larger part of the Texas crop than formerly. A few nr.portant shipping stations al'e Laredo in 'Webb County, Corpus Christi find Robstown in Nueces County, Crystal City in Zi1yu.la County, Asherton find Bigwells in Dinnnit County, and RII:ymondyi1le in Will!lcy County.

In the "Tinter GILrden and .ILdjncent districts much of the crop is transplanted from seedbeds to the field in Noyember or early December. In the ]oworcoastal counties onions are genemlly grown from Reed drilled dil'eetly in the field in llLte September. In the Collin County district most of the crop is grown f,'om plants obtlLined from southern distr'icts of the State. For a detILiled description of the Texas onion districts reILders should Tefer to l'exas Agriculturnl Experiment Station Circulnr 65.2

The eILrIy Texas crop is mostly harvested and mILrketed from the llLtter pILrt of Mareh to the first part of June ILnd the intermediate crop from Collin County and ndjueent dist"icts, mostly in June and early July.

2HAWTUOIIN, I". H. IIEIUrtTllA ONION CllI.TUI'~: IN 1'EXAH. ~""x. Agr. l~xpt. Stu. ('irc.U5, HpJ)., illus. 19:12,

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TARLE 3.-Prinripul7J/WSl'S OJ ?/lOr/Ie/'i-II{l ollinn~ in S]l('I'i}iI'il])rnrlllcill{f Slol(',~ ---.....--.-~..

APllroXimntc pro AfJpru~IlortiOtt of mate pro

Stnleship. portion of 1.cndlng JlroJ!udll~ ments crop usual \'s\l1I1 metholls o( snle b>'l'rinl'ipal Siale r Ll'u,lillgyarietie, undl nics pr(l!lt1< Crl l shlppin!! l'rinciI111!1IInrke\s('ounU Bcolt, Hancock, :llitelt Yellow G1oile, !tet! Globe, ulld a few JUI;' to Oc Cities in Xurth Ceniral 5-10 I 5-10 pcr 'fo r,1[lot dealers. z

ell. \"hlencla. tober. ~tntes~ t l'ent~ G}

f '11'"rl~' lind interUledhlle: Yellow I

~

; , IIcrllltlllt" Cr,stal \\'hllll Wax. i i "lOcklun Yell,)w Glob", While i

o Z

: Glohe. ('uliforniu I~\lrll" I{ctl .... CnJiforniu .. -..1Riversirle, K~rn. :lll'r' I nlohe, sellliglohc, und Eurly ~IIIY to De ICilies in rnlifornia IInti [. 30-15 I SIIIIIII ]Jro '1'0 dealers at (anns or Car o

ced, RUCTaIlH,lnto. ~a:! It nrnno~ loher, other ,,'estern StInes, nnd I portion door. z (JlJoaquin_ Late: Yellow Globe, Sweet Spanish Jnrl!c citics nf..i~orth _\ thin~ in delta

I 1 or Ynhmcin. \rhilu (1 lobe, \11\\.1 tic uno Korlh Ccrllral! district. , A IIstrnliatJ Brown. ):;lates, I

;\fHS:-lIlChuset.ts. ' l"rankJin, IInlllpsl1ire ~ J:tptlllesesels t nwl Connecticut Yal- July to :-:0'1 Xe\~ ~:n~lnl1!1 llIltl z,] illdle 05-70 50 percclIt.l '1'0 dealers fit farm Or de I ley (l\obescts, a few lale whiteurul vernher. Atlllntic cities. Iivero,1 hy truck.j

reu \-nrietics. Ke\\' York._ .... 1 :llonroe. OnorldhRII. Ohio Yellow Glohe. ;o,lichignn Yel. AU~U5i tll Z,losll~' North Atlantic, 5,j..fjO ;\l:,jority__ '1'0 cash buyers.

Orange, [Jenesec, ]0\\' (lJobe, :';ollthllOl't Yellow April. "uuth Atluntie, nnd Ohio, 11l1uison. O:-leau5, Os- niobe. srlme selJli~lobi' and JHpnwego, \VnYlle. ncs',! sets. u \"cry few :'::punish tYlJe.

{Ihil>________ .... Hanlin, '\\,iIIiUIlIS, W"- Yellow Glohe, sorlie White Globe, Aug u s I to I' Ohio, North Atlantic. olhl 30-50 75 percenL About hulf on f, o. h. nndot. 'II few Sweet Spanish, arid Het! l\lnrch. , Soulh AUllntic. l)asis: rC m tl inti e r to

Globes. truckers. consilHlcti, or I joint. n("counL ...

IlIllianu ________.1 Kosciusko, No!J Ie, l'outhporl '\"el1

8 'J'ECHNlCAL BULLB'l'lN 555, U. S. DEPT. O.Jo' ACmCUL'l'UltE

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9 MAHKETl,XGOXJOXS

In the 5 y('ur's lQ31-3ii nholJi, 21 [)crwnt of the CulifornirL onion a(,J'CHge ]illS 'hccll elllssec./ us ('ndy ('!'Of) l1nd about 22 ]lC'J'('(,llt liS intermediate, TIre COHclJe1l1L Ynllcy in Hi\'cl.'side County is.an impoJ'tant early onion dist1'iel;, Tbe lnnd is geneI'ully Jcyel and is irrigated from wells, :l\1ost of the grO\\'t'rs raise their o\\'n vIan'l::; iu seedbeds nnd trallsplant to tllO fields ill Noveml)(,l' 01' ('nrly De('enrl)(,L' in double rows from 12 to If) In('hcs npul't, The Yellow ]3el'1lHJdlt and Crystnl \Yhite \Yax are the only vn.rieties grown. Hnr'\"esting and J11Jll'keting operlltions fire mostly in 1\,[n"y und the first ]Inlf of JUlie,

In Kem County onion sced is plnntecl. in beds during the Hrst llIllf of Sept('J)) bt'l', and the ]lInn ts ure i"l'unsplnn Led to the field from tlte mjddle of November to HIe middle of D(>('~'mher, Thc onions ure ready for m!LI'ket d ul'ing tlle lu1tcl' hlilf of 1\1 uS und the first hulf of .June, Two l'OWS of pirmts, 8 to 10 i11(,\)(>S npnrt, nrc set on ridges, with the distunce betwe(,H rows on acljac('I)t ridges 2(j to 30 ill('ileR, TIle fields fire irriglLtecllLnd feLtilized, YnJ'ieties find typcs grown in oJ'der of importance firc Cl',Ystnl '\Ylrit(' ,rnx, "Thite Globe, Sweet Spnnish, find Yellow I~el'lnuda"

TJlO il1t(,J'medillte crop of ('entl'1I1 Cnlif01'lliiL is trunspllLnted fro111 beds to the fields il1 December nnd :rHllUilJ':r and flm llsunl1y haJ'vested nnt! mnl'keted from Mny 20 to July ] 0, They arc s('t on ridges, ench ridge hn.ving two rows n.hou t 12 :inehes npn l't. The ou tside row" of ndjncent J'idges fire about 82 indIes npnrt to pJ'oyitie room for ('ldtivlltion and iL'L'igntion. 'rho Vr'ill('ipHl vfll'it'til'S lIrc StO('ktOll Ydlow (;lobe, Stockton Yellow Semiglo1)t', Culifol'tJin EnJ'ly 1{ixl, Bno Early Gl'il1l0,

LOUlMAXA

The onion crop of ]:"oui5inl1n, which is ('lLi(lny of Ole Cl'eole vnriety, is pl'odu('(ld mostly in Lit FouJ'rlle nnd I'oillte Coupec PnJ'islles nelll' l\ew Orlel1us, The l.Jouislnn11. fl(T('ng,'e in the 5 YCllrs 1931-35 tlYeJ'ngecl uhout 1,100 il('res, "which is nbOlJt 5 ]lC're('lIt 'of tbeCnited Stut.es el1rlyc1'op acreage, 'rhe onions 11I'e J'nised fJ'om. sercl plnnted in O('t.ober. The prin

10 TECHNICAL BULLE~I'IN UUU, U, S, DEPT. OF AGlUCUl11'{JRE

IOWA

Tn the interl1ledi!tte-crop distl'ict or Iowa, centcring in Rcott County ill the southcastel'l1 pHrt of the 8tu1,o" nhollt 1,000 Heres of OniOJlB hnvc been grown RJlI1Unl1y ns nn Ilycrnge for ]\}:31-:35. This is nenriy OIlChlllf the Ilcrellge for the whole State. In tbe Scott County di8trict nbout SO percent of the crop is grown from sets und the remuinciN from seed. AbOllt 80 po,rcellti of the CI'OP j,:; ,Vpllow glohe t)TPC !tllci the rCIl1!lindcr Hed Glohe. '1'1)(1 l'rop is Il!ll'\'cst

11 .MAltKE'CIN(1 ONIONS

somo districts, llslu'()lmd Call1lstottL, ,50 to 6(} pe['(:ent of the crop is grOWJl ["Olll sets. 'rhe general pmetice is to plant in rows about 14 inches apart. Sets are uSlHLlly plt1nted from April 1 to April 10 and the crop grown [rom seed is planted a few dn,,Ys later.

Over 95 pereent of the crop consists of globe 01' semiglobe yellow varieties. The Yellow Globe Danvers is tho leading variety with considerable acreages of Ohio Yellow Globe, l\1ichignll Yellow Globe, and Southport Yellow Globe varieties, and seyern.l new varieties of n serniglobe type. The JapiLllese variety produced from locally fGrown sets is the leading variety in the Canastota district. Haryestmg of onions grown from sets llsllnlly starts about August 1, whereas the harvest of semiglobe vlLrieties begins about August 15. The start of the late-onion hnrvest is usually from August 25 to September 1.

OHIO

The Ohio onion ('/'Op n.n\l'n,ged (j PCl'cciJ t or the United States Iate('rop prod lIction in 1031-;35. 'rht'J'e are six generally reeognilled onion districts ill the State: the Scioto mnJ'sh district, ('hief1y in Hurdin County; tile Cllr." marsh distl'iet in 'Vynnclot County; the Locli mn,rsh distriet in :Medina County; the northwestern district in '~nllinms County; the llorthcastcl'll district in Trumbull tlnd Ashtabula Counties; nnd the 'Yilln.l'd marsh district in Huron County.

Ollio onions UrelH'HTly n,]] protluccd from seed without trnnsplanting. There is no il'l'ign,tioll. Seed is pbnted from March 20 to June 10 and rOl1sidel'n,ble qunntities of fertilil,er are used. Uows n.re 13 to 14 inc11es apart. Res('cding is frequently nec.essnry on n.ccouut of seed being blown from the ground.

I~ Y cHow globe onions comprise about tlll'ee-fourths of the crop. 1\10st of the remainder is the white globe type, with small acreages of reel glohe n,nd Spnnish-type onions. The 11l11'Ycsting season for yellow glohe nnd Spanish-type onions is from August 15 to October 1. IVlost of the white n,m\l'cd '\'aJ'ieties nrehn,]'vestcu in August.

Onions nre grown in n. number of districts throughout southern Mirhign,n. The two len.ding producing districts nre in Allegan and Cnlhoun' Counties. DUJ'ing the period 1931-35 an a.vemge of about ) ,441,000 sacks of on1011s were grown III Michigml, which is about 15 J)(,lwnt of the entire In,te crop. Production ill this Stnte bas increased eOllsidcrnbly in the lnst 10 yenrs. Onions are grown fronl seed without trnnsplfLnting, with the exception of .n. small acreage grown from sets. Most. of the crop is plnnted in April in rows about 14 inches apart. Ueplnnting wheIlllcccssn.ry is sometimes clone as late a.s June. Pmctif'll.lly nU the acreage is fertilized. Perhaps 90 percent of the l\lichig!l,n onions nre of the yellow globe type. Ab~ut 5 percent are 'Yhlte (llobe, n.nd 5 percen t Red Globe and ValenCll1.

Onions grown from sets, probably not oYer 5 percent of the crop, are hn /'\'este.d in the first half of August. The enrly maturing crop grown from s('ed, c.ompl'ising about 5 percent, is hurycsted in the latter~lI1lf of A1lgust. The hn"Y('st of the mnin lHlt't of the lnte crop, comprising nhout. 90 percent of the State total, t'n.kes place from September 1 to October 15.

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12 'J'EC'HNWAIJ J3ULLlll'l'lN J,jJ, D. S. ])]!Wl' , 01" AGlUCUW'UlUil

INDlANA

Indiana produced :thou t I) percent of the United States late-crop onions from 1::J:31-35, 'rtlC volume of produC'tioll ill this StilLe 1In.s decl'enged gl.'elttly in the last 10 :veill's, .Most of the Cl'OP is grown on smull aCl'eages of muck soils on geneI'ILl farms. 'rlle Indiana onion area is about 150 miles long lind ao miles wide ill the northerIl ptLrti of the StfLi,e. Len,ding pl'Odllcing eountir.s are Koscillsko, N0ble, \'\T]litley, Starke, and Steuben..Mo$b of the crop is grown from seed, Probn hly 1)0 pCl'een ti of tho ])]'odueUoll is 01' the Y cllow Glohe type. The rellwindc'.l is ,Yhhe Globe, red varieties, nnd SplUlish type. I:lal'vesting gets under wny in AugusL. (

ILLINOIS

T11e onl~T eomrnPl'cinl onion distriet ill Illinois is nenJ. Chien go ill Cook County. 'rile erop is planted fWIll April 1 to April 20. The Spnllish typo, now ('0 I1lj)J'ising from onc-fourth to ouc-third of the ('('OP ~rown from seed, is ~ni.ning in populnl'it,~r. The Southport Ycllow GlohC', is n1::;o gro\n1 t'I'OIll s('c'd. About thrce-fourths of t11e crop growlI fI'Om st'!s is In.pnnesc und the J'L'll1l1in(!C'l' Yellow Stl'ilsbmg. Onions horn sets arc hal,'c'S{.NI from August 5 to AllgllSt 20 und the crop grown from seed is II!lJ'yested ill the last lllllf of 8ppt.cmhol'.

WISCONSIN

All impol'tnn t. commeJ'ciul onion clistrictin Wiseollsin is in the castel'll part of tile Sln!c along Lnke J\lic1 ligan , mos(]l' in KenoslH1. unel Racine COlin tics. Less HIIIll 2 POI'(,C'llt oj' tile lTnitC'd States Jate ('1'01> is grown in '\"is('ol1sin. ll'ormcrly 11]] onions \\,('I'e grown fl'()lIl s('pcl lmt, since 11);-30 j,llC'l'e hns 1)(,C'11 a. tC'n(il'uc'y to plnnt ('on8ide1'n 1>10 aCI'C'ngC's of scts, llllLil ill 11)35 from 35 to 50 1)(,1'c('nti 01' the ('1'Op in the distl'iet nlong Lake J\fiehigan WllS grow]) fr()m sets, 'rhe sC'ts arc snid to produce nn Cllrlipr ('J'op with less dltl11t'e of crop fnilul'O. SOlI thpOJ't Ycllow Globe, Southport Rpcl Globe I.nel flo few Spnnish-t,ypc onions nrc grown fro]}) socci. The most impoI'tnnti variety grown from sets is tile Jnpnllcsc. J\fost of the crop Pl'odllced from Sl'tS is lWTY('st-t'd fro111 August 1 to August 20. Onions grown from sped nrc genel'ltlly htllTest('d during ~ the month beginning August 25. Production 01' onion sds is nn illlp()J'tnnt pllrt of the onion industry in ,Yisconsin nnd Illinois.

M!NNE801'A

Onions grown in J\finll('sotn nYPl'ngcd 412,000 sll('ks, 01' :1bOllt 4 PCI'('ent. of the entire }ntp. (TOp in 1031~35. The I1011ulldnle district ill Freehorn County is the principnl onion clistriet in the Stnte. Some onions !lTe also grown in Mille Lues County, nellr J\[innenpolis in Hennepin County, and in Clay nnd Polk Counties in the Red ltiwl' yn.lley . Nearly n11 of the (,1'.op is ~l'O'\\'n .from sped in .rows abou t ?4 lIlchps npnrt, although the Wid 01 of rows 111 tIle HNI. IhYcr Valley diStricts is 1Isun11y 18 ~Ol' 20 in('hC's. Pcrhnps 80 pe1'('el1 t of the onions grown in Freeborn COlIn(\r nrc Sout.hport YplIow Globe, 10 perccnt pa"'~ier maturing yellow globe tIYjH'S, nnd 10 pe1'('en t RC'd Globe, ,Vhite Globe, Spnnisll,' find nJiscolln iH'olIS varieti(s. The u('rcnge of red onions is decreasiug, In othcr lVlinnesoin. distri('t.s there is npproximately the snme distribution 0.1' Yfl I'ip{,ips. H!!,:,v6sting hegins in Freeborn eountlY n bout August 5, lind in fhe nOl'thel'1l counties about a 1110nth later 11Iid Insts until nbOll t October 15.

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13

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l\lAltKE'l'lNG ()NIONS

IOWA

The late crop jn Iown, comprises slightly more than half the State's neren,ge in onions and is chieflY in Hn.neoek and .M.itc11Cll Counties in the northern pil.rt of the State. 'rhe III te ('rop is all grown from seed. About 60 percent of the production is compl'isrd of Yellow Glo1)0 nnd tl)C l'emnindel' is mostly B.:ld Globe, 'with fL few Vnlendn, in the Hnneoek COlin ty distriet. 'rhe hanrest period is mostly from I1bou t August 10 to the latter paTt of Oerober.

COLORADO

Importall t onion-producing districts in Colorndo nrc in the Arkunslls RiWl' VilUey in the so Lttheast.em purt of the State, centering in Otero nnd Pueblo Counties and in the west.ern-slope counties of Mesa, Delta, and Montrose. 'J'jlel'e is also n. disirkt 111 'Weld County in the nOl'the1'll pnrt of the State.

ATernge production in Colorado hns not changed greatly in the lust 10 years and from 1931-:35 n.vemged about 7 percent of the United Stutes late ('rop. 'fhe CI'OP is growll 1'1'0111 seed without tmnspla,nting on irrigated In.nel. Planting tukes plnee in :Mul'ch or en.IIy April. The rows arc ubout 20 inches npnrli, exeepliin 110rthern Colorudo where the rows nrc lIs11nlly ] 2 to 16 inches npn1't. In tIle Arkansas RiYer V nIley the Sweet Spnl1ish 01' VnleIlcin. is the pl'illC'ipnl variety. Some White Sweet SpnniRh is grown. In tllis district, hnrvesliillg begins about SC'ptcmbcr 1 and COlltinllPs throllgh most of October. In the western slope district tllc erop is largely lVlolllllinill Dunvers and Valencia Yllrieties. About 80 to 90 pereent nrc Dnnvel's. No recent shifts in nlrirtiC's haye oeeu1'l'ed. The hnl'vesLing peliod is mostly in the latter pn rli of SeptC'l11beL' nnd the first purt of Oetober. In northern Colorndo tho yurieti('s :ll'e Yellow Dnnvers, Yenow Valencia., and \V'hite Globe. Tlle crop is haryested in the Intter hnlf of September.

UTAH

The (>.ommerrinl onion production in Utah in the period 1931-35 has ayeraged 236,000 sa('ks, OJ' about 2 pcrcp.ut of the late crop, Thc pl'illcipnl onion counties urc Dn.vis, \Vebel', Utah, SnIt Luke, Box 1%1('1', und Cliche, nl! in the north-cenlii'll] pnrL of the State nem' on'flt SnIt Lnkr. The ('J'OP is growll from seed untie!' hriglltion and plnn tiJlg usually stnTts the Insli week jn :MU1'ch 01' the first week in April. 'lvInIlY of the growers lise ilTigntion wn tel' pumped 1'1'0111 wells. Commerciu] fel,tilizer and bnl'l1YHrd 111n1101'e nrc used 011 the crop. The Vnlcn('in. type of onion wns introuucecl into Utah about 1920 and hilS 110W ]JI'nctienlly repluced the Dnnvers-type onions whieh wem formerly the prineipnl t.ype. Hnrvesting genern]]y stnrts the latter purL. of August find continues ul1tilllbout t.he middle of OdobeI'.

lUAno

OniOJl pJ'Od uction in Idaho hus ine1'eused eOllsidel'll bly

J4 'fECHNICAL BULLE'J'IN 555, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICUL'l'URE

across the Snake River from these counties. The next importfLllt Idaho district is in Twin Falls and Jerome Counties. The Idaho crop is all grown from seed with the exception of a few Bermudas grown from sets imported from Texas. The crop is grown under irrigation and is usucLlly planted from Jv1a.reh 1 to 15. Fertilizers used include barnyard mantu'c, cover crops, and commercial fertilizers. About 85 percent of the crop is Spanish type. Some Yellow Danvers, Red Globes, Red Wethersfield, Prizetaker, and a few Bermuda onions H,re grown. rl'he shift to Spanish-type onions from Yellow Danvers find .'

FWl'ln; 2.-l.Inrvt!l-;ting. operatious ill n \\'estern Htntc. Here onions urc often Ililed in rows ill tho ( . field uftor tho t.IlI'S urc cliPIJOll.

othp[' types has been rn,pid during the last 10 years. Harvesting USUH Uy begins the latter part of August (fig. 2).

WASHINGTON

The part of the Washington crop classed as ltLte is mostly ~rown in. Yakimn, COlmty, the intermediate crop being grown chiefly III Walla vValJn County. The Inte crop has averaged nbollt 3 percent of the entire In.te-onion crop. The onion district of fi.bout 1,100 ncres in Yakima, County is on black loam. The crop, which is of the Spanish type, is grown under irrigntion. Seed is sown in the field in 11nrch and the young plnnts are thinned. Hnryesting usually starts about August 20 and continues into October.

OREGON

Oregon onion production has increased during the }nst decade. The nverage crop of the 5 yenrs 1931-35 was 418,000 sacks, which is about 4 percent of the United Sttttes In,te crop. The most important district is in the Willamette Valley, chiefly in Marion County, with a

..

,

MARKE'l'li\G ONIONS 15

smaller acreitge in Washing tOll County. The district in castern Oregon in Malheur Count,y is similar to the Snake Ri\'er district in Idaho. Practically nIt Oregon onions are grown fl'OI.n seed without tt:ansplant~ ing, The crop is usually pl!Lnted ill Apl'il. O\yerhciLd irrigation is used in the vVi1lamette Valley and the rows are 13 to 1.5 inches apart. Some commercial fertilizer and barnyard malllu~e are used, In eastern Oregon the crop is about two~thirds Yellow SpiUlish. type anel one~ third "Vl~te ~panish type, In the Willnmette Valley practically the only yanety IS the so-called Oregon )' ello\\' DiUlYers. The Oregon Yello\\' Danvers is along-keeping type much in del1uUlcl for hLte spl-ing use. The appl'oximn.te hClI'YCSt, season is from August 20 to October 10.

CAI.[I>OHNIA

The late~onion crop in CalHomitL has avel'llged 810,000 sacks in the 5 years ended ill 1935, or about 9 percent of the elltire la.te crop, The Stockton district comprises San Joaquin Couuty, the uorthern portion of Stanisla.us County, and the eastern portion of Contrn, Costa County. There is some production in Sacmmento COlmty. In the delta district of the San Joaquin and Sn.cmmento Rivers onions are grown from seed planted from December 15 to February 15 to mature il'om July 15 to September 15. In the delta onion fie ids are subirl'igatecL III the Stockton district outside the delta the cmp is irrigated and part of the acreage both outside !Lnd in the deJtlL is fertilized.

Onions groV.-ll in these districts are a mLxtlu'e of YiLI-iOllS varieties and strains. The varieties thnt mature before the main late crop n;re yellow globe or semi.s-Iobe type with it yery few miscelhllleous red varieties. Later-matmiug vitrieties are Yellow Globe, Spanish, White Globe, and Australian .vl'own. Some of the eltrUer maturing onions in ~his district nre harvested from JllIW 10 to July 5. The lllainlate crop is harvested from July 15 to Septembrt' 15.

HARVESTING

The time of harvesting in finy particuhLr Stflle or district often ,'aries seveml weeks from senSOll to senson been.use of weather coneutions.

'fhe curly crop Bermudn-type onions are h!llTestecl when most of the tops have fallen to the .ground (fig. 3). In some instances, u1ll'ipe stock is harvested in the hope of obtaining relMively high prices on the early market. In Texlls, the onions are loosened by means of n plow with a flat bIttde which is run under the row to dip the roots and raise the bulbs so that the plants will wil t. The onions are usually pulled by hand and after curing in the field for sc\'eml clays the tops are clipped off. In some installces the crop is plowed out with it small specially constructed plow. If the onions are well matured the tops may be clipped off at Ollce. Shears similar to sheep shears are generally used in clipping the tops off the bulbs. The onions may be covered in the field or taken to an open shed for proteetion from the sun. In harvesting the Bermuda crop in sou them Californin, the onions are USlU1lly loosened by a borse-drawn implement with a tilted steel blade. The OnilHlS are 'then pulled Hud plnced in the rows l1nd the tops and roots clipped off before curing. .Most of the curing tukes place in the fields !lfter the onions are snc.ked.

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16 'l'ECHNICAL BULLETIN 5::;5, U. S. DEI"!'. OF AGIUCULTUJl.E

In all distriets precaution,; ure tnkell to ])"(''1'(,11(, tlfUllnge by Slln smLlcL in hot wcnlh('l'. This is done by ('o\'l'I'ing the Ollions in t!ip field either with tops or by OL!Wl'IIlOfU1S, 0" h.v hauling th(,1Il to n. shed.

In In,te nnrt in I.PJ'lnodill,(e onion-pl'od ucing n ,'(,llS hn "\'ps(iug usually starts W.IWfl the onion tops lwgin to tUI'll ypllow nnd hI! to Liw grollnd,

FJ(;t:IIE3.-'l'h~ fulling Ol'cr or the tops in this Texns ficld is lin imllclltionthul the onions nrc rendy to Iiurl'cst.

1Ipthods of htu'\'esting cliffe!' sOlllewhnt Ull10ng the v!ll'iouf\ HI'Nts hut the Nls('ntinl opemtions nl'p similnr .

.FIGI:ItE {.-Lule-crop ouioJis thrown toge(hcr in windrows to cnru "efore the tops urc clipped olI.

A muchine with a blade which pnsses uuder the onions to ('ut the roots and loosen the bulb::; is usecl in many tl.l'ens. This opemtioll, which is en,lIeci "lifting", is often perfol'luecl se\'ern] clnys before the onions nre taken from the ground. An oeensiomd prnctiee is to brenk the tops down to the ground with n. light roller se\'eml dn.u3 before

MARKETING Ol.;'101':S 17

hnJ'\Tcsting. Thishnstcns the drying down of tllp tops nnd ma.y lllcilitntc their J'P!llo\'aI fl'Olll the. bulbs. All. objPctioll to rolling down the tops is tlmt SOHle bruising injury to the onions mny Tesult, III il'l'ignted districts j wa(;er is usually with])(']

18 'TECHNICAL BULLE'l'IN 555, U. S. DEPT. Q}' AGRICULTUm.;

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19 MARKE~I'INa ONIONS

meet the prO\-isions of U. S. No.1 grnd' except for size. The picklers u,re "C'ry snwn, being uuder 1 inch in diameter and the boilers nre from 1 iueh to 1%irwhes ill dinlllctcl".

Grude fnct.ors ('onsidel'l\d in the standards indudc YHrlPtnl chnrn.cteristics, matLUity, firmncss, shupe, and damnge from sun scald, peeling, staining, find from othel' cnuses. 'Vhite oJlions are especially subject to damage by sttlining find for tbis reuson special cure is necessary to prevent damage to these yrtrietics from exposure to wcntllcr conditions in the field. Onions that lwye been exposed to cold weather mn.y be injured by freezing und stored onions mny be injuTed by sprouting.

To allow for yariutions incident to gmding and sizing, tolerances nrc J)I"oyicicd in the grades. They permit a relatiyely smnJl pl'Oportion of any lot to fnil to meet the requirements specified.

Sepumte stnndn,rds Imve been issued for Bermuda omons. These proyide for U. S. No.1, U. S. No.2, unci U. S. Oommercial grades. Cnder these st~ndnTds, the size of Bermuda onions, unless otherwise spC'cifi('d, shn.ll h(' from 2 inrlws to aJ~ inches in dinmetel'. Seeel stems,

}'I(lt:ItE O.-Open shed used in curing lind grnding onions.

noticeably pink color, and damage by soft rot are impol'tan t defects of Hermudl1. onions. Lots containing 11 limited number of noticel1.bly pink onions bu t otherwise conforming to gmde requirements can, under tbe st!wdnl'ds, be .designn.ted flS "D. S. No.1 Pinl,;:", "D. S. No.2 Pink", or "L;. S. Commercin.l Pink."

Gmding standards 1'01' Oreo1e onions provide for D. S. No.1 grn.de. Tbe mininlul11 si;.:e oftbese onions, unless otherwise specified, shull be 1:I~ inches in diameter,

All of the standards include an Unelussif:ied designation fOl' onions which nre not graded in conformity with the establisbed gmdes.

The pmctices in sizing and gmcling onions vary to some extent in different nreas. Stock tbat is to be shipped to market as soon as J1m'vested and 110t stoTecl in the producing arens is genemlly sized, gmded, and pn.cked in tile field. Much of the early nnd intermediate ('I'OPS is lllwdled in this way. In Texas field grading and packing is eommon but there is also eonsidentble gntdillg, sizing, nnd ])t1cking in sbeds.

III mllny IntC'-cl'Op nrcns a Im'ge part of the CI'OP if; si;.:cd, gmded, and packed in sheds or onioIH.;tol'l1gl\ housof> (fig. (), This is the genom.!

20 'rECHNICAL BULLEcl'IN 555, U. S. DEPT.. OF AGRICUL'I'URE

practice in New York, Michigan, Idallo, western Colomclo, and to some extent in other arens. Growers in some sections where field packing" is common lnake tL practice of' bn.uling" I\, J)nrt of' the crop to sheds so tha,t sizing, grading, and pneking opel"H tions cun be contin LIed during a few days of rainy weather. In some al'ens onions :for immediate shipment to market are gmdecl !tncl puckc-d in the field and onions for stor!tge are huuled to the sheds or storage houses for grading.

A large part of the crop is sized und graded on homo-"mfl,c1e tn:bles which ure frequently about 3 feet wide lWei 8 to 12 feet long. These titbles l!a\'e scroens or sln,tted bottoms with the slats plaeodlcngthwise on the tn,ble. The tn:blcs are sloped .to i'n,eilitnte the moyement of the onions by hauel n.loug the table. Dirt nnd smull onions fall tllrough beb,'oen the slilts. As the Oluons are movod nlong the tnblc by haud,

FII.l'Ilr: 7." Opcn-mcsh soc'k,; of 50- nncl IO-pound cnpnC'ilics lIsed inll1nrk~ting onions.

clefecti \'0 stoek is picked of!'. rn some instnnces, where t1 Jurgc-I' minimum size than that obtnilled by passing the onions o\'e1' the slutted tnble is ulso dc-sirod, the lnrp:e onions nre pick('cl off the table by lIn.nd. The onions that are not defeetiYe ilnd thnt 'willnot pass Ulrough the slntted bottom nre ll10yed nlong nnd fnll into slwks at Lhe end of the tnble.

In [1, number of nrcns it is the common prn.etiee to 11S0 mn,chines, ei:thc-l' powel'-dl'i\'en or Jw,nd-opernted, in sizing the onions. Some of tbese mnchines ure similnr to those used in sizillg potnt.oes. 1-.1achine sizing isn, common prueticc in Texas, Idaho, Oregon, Iowfl, New JeJ'sey, and in parts of'Ynshington and Colorndo. In other arens some growers, pill'tieulnrly the Inl'ger opemtors, use mcchnnienl sizing mnehilles. 'Yl('n sizing mnehines nrc 11S0d. the ddeetiye onions are pieked off the machines by lin.neL Onions for storage nrc frequently graded when tnkon out of storage for sllipmcnt n.s well ns ",lIt'll placed in storn,ge at hnrvest time.

Onions nrc sized by ]lHncl in some district.s without the nid of screens or slatted tables. For example, early-crop onions in CnlifoI'niu. are

21 MARKE1'ING ONIONS'

mostly sized in the fields as soon as the tops and roots are dipped ofl'. Workers ure prodded with sizing gnges with round openings representing the minimum sizes permitted in the pncks.

A notable change in onion nULrkcting in the last 5 yellers .has been it shift in packing to the 50-pound sitek from the lOa-pound sack and from crates. A very large pUl't of the crop, pl'obnhly 85 to 90 percent, is now pllcked in 50-pouneL open-mesh sacks, made of pnper net, cotton net, or jute net (fig. 7). These Slicks fire mostly of nn orunge 01' yellow color with grade designations und trade mnrks on them. Some use is also mnde 01 the 5-, 10-, 15-,25-, and lOO-pound sucks. Chniu stores Lu.Ye llllndled considerable qUl1ntities of onions in smllll ,.,ncks, mostly of 10-pound cnpndt;y. Reports j'rnlt1 \'ll do us eily mitl'kets indicnte that the use of small siteks for onions hnndlexl by whol('sfllersand jobbers is Dot int'l'ensing.

Onions imported from Chile nre generaUy uniformly sized unci pnckod in l'ectnngulnl' ('l'nt,('S having two ('ompnrtnH'nts nne! weigl1ing about 48 pounds net. I~g'yptian onions nre packed in burlap sncks which vary some.whnt in w('igbt nnd f\.Wl'age nbout 110 pounds. Imported Spanish onions flrc pncked ill flat ('I'utes llOIding ubout 40 pounds net. The onions n tc uniformly sized andusunlly Jill \"0 50 01' 72 onions pel' cl'nte, with n, Jew ('rates of Ycry lnl'geonions pn.ckccL 30 to the ('rilLe.

FJmERALSTATE INSPECTION

In most of the eomm('l'cial onion-producing uren.s Feclel'lll-Stn.tp. inspection of s11ipments is n\'nilnble 1'01' u. smnll fee to pnl'tirs W110 UI'e flnancin.lly intC'rcsted. As n. pnrt of tbe sC1'\"iee, ccrtifkntC's showing

T,\llLE 4.-C'(lrlot.~ of on'ion.~ i'1I8wcted lim}!'/, Fedi'm/-Slo,le. senice (II S}u:7)7n:ng poinis b!! Slutes and under Fulcrol slTl'ice at ell!! markets, YCrtrll bC'(linning .July, 19S0-31 10 1.984-8':; I

i CutS Cur .- ..

:,

i _. ~~~.ir

j 701 I .. --.-... "..--.. - _ --,- ii

22 TECHNICAL BULI..:m'ITN ;1.1,,",, U. S. DEP'I'. ()]~ A(iRTClTI.!ITHE

statement l'f gmde nnd deSCTipt,ion (If shipnl('nt~ fli'P fllrni~hl'cl to interested pm'ties (fig. 8).

For' the Fnitcd Stnks in the pe;'iod 1!l:30:~1 to In:34~85 the' onion shipments tJmt wl're lll~pe('ted lit shipping points 1'nngrd from 1~,:3{j(j ('ill'S, or' 31 ])el'('('n t of the Cll"'ot shipments, in ] !l80~al to 17,213 cflrs, or 58 percent, in 1933-:34. The numbrr of CllI':; inspectC'd fit slJipping point is shown by StatesfLnd seasons in blhle 4.

~~~~~~~~~~~~YlIR~~~~~~~~~~,~~,~._~".r..__

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OItIGINAL ~ U 8813

INSPEcrlON CERTIFICATE

Impcclion poinUl!.I!.tL!lg!.L.!1.!EE.: ..... _ BiIIlnr poinl...!!!!!!!!!!1:~!. l!1ch. ..... Dol. "lJnrch.3, 1'))2:.

Applicanl_.T ...... ~.~_R~....__......... ._ .......... Aclclress .....l!.:.~~E~y!"Oh10 ...... .

Shipp" ..... _ _~~... _ .....__............ " _ ........ Aclclw.....?!'l"l' ........... _ ............... .

Car Initiol anJ numb" ._l:Lp"'!__..?...9...Q..9..A._._.. Kine/ of car ... .!!e!r~6'!~~~!'!...____.....__

Car rquipmmlane/ cone/ilion al compldion of in,pcc/ion ...i>&4;..l!.1lo l!atoh oovero olosed, Jlluge

23 i\!lIJlKETlNG ONIONS

In 1034-a5 0\"('(' two-thirds of the shipping-point inspections were In the fOllr l-ltate'S Texlls, Michigan, California, and Idaho. Some truck shipments of onions are inspected in addition to the cal'iots. In Texns a InI'ge pllrt of the Bcrllludu, crop is graded nnd sold IlS United Stntes eommeI'cini grnde. In 10 other lending onion Stntes snmple tnbulntions of dn f fI, from inspection certificn tes Oil the 1935 crop indicute thnt the perc('ntnge of inspections which met the U. S. No.1 grade r('quirenlC.'nts ynried in diJrcrent Stnt(s Trom nbout 60 perc('nt to on'r 05 perc('nt nnd nve1'llged about SO percent.

The li'edernl inspection seJTice is n150 ilynilnble in city murkets. The n Ulll bel' of onion inspections in the city murkets is much smillIeI' thnll the number nt shipping poiJlts. In the five seasons 1930-31 through] 034-85 inspcctions of CI1I'lot receipts of onions in city mnrkeLs l'nngl:d.Toughly from 5 t.o 10 percent 01' the number of cars shipped in the l mtNI Stat.e's.

Trtl nsnctions bl't.ween shippers nnd dist.nnt buyers nrc fncilitnt.ed by the 115e of' the Ji'edernl-St.n to. inspection service and tbe officinl gruding standul'ds. The inspection sel'yice on the basis of ofHrial grudes ful'nj:,11cs n basis for contl'l1ct t.l'Hllst1ctions find diseournges rejcction of shipments upon their iU'!'iyul in the mnrJ,ets without just cnuse. A dNnil('d description oJ H shipnwnt ns shown 011 tlle inspection ccrt.ificotc ni

24 'rECHNICAL BULLE'l'IN GGb, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

side by side in each ]uyel' with the sucks in ultel'l1uting layers plneed crosswise nnd lengthwise or the CUI'. 'rhe sacks ill the top laycr nre crosswise. To prevent shifting of the loud rows of sucks nm plnced lengthwise of the cur nboye the spnccs between the cribs nnd nlso next to the side wnIls. A cal' loaded in this way gencrnJly contnins 500 50-pound slicks which is the usual cnrlond in Texus find other Stntes cxcept in the western l'rp;ion where 600 sncks mulw the usuullol1d. In 'l'exns shipments by rllil to ports for farther movement by bont nre usun]]y londed six In,ycl s high IlJ1d contnin nbout 600 sncks.

Another method of londing 50-pound sucks of onions is to plnee three or JOllr TOWS on end nlong euch side of the enl' forming fL nurrow spuee lengthwise of t.he lond ill the cent-('r of tlle cnr. Three ]nyers of :;!lcl(5 ure londed lying {lut on top of the lnyer which stunds on end. The top by('l' is lengthwise of Ow (~ur ulld the other two ]u,yers of sacks which nrc lying dowll lire Cl'oss\vjse of the eur. This proddes 11 ventiln,ting spnee lel1gtll\\~se of the CHI' ulthough the lond is often irreguIndy :UTung(\d in the doorwny.

Under Imotht'I' method tile cnr is lond('(l the entire length with the sfleks lying Hnt fjye ]nycrs Jdgh. The. laycrs nltel'l1nte six rows wide nnd three ]'O\\'S wide. The six-row 1ay('rs nrc those in which the Slicks lIrc lengthwise of the enr whercns the throe-row layers nrc of sucks efosswise or the cnl'.

Two-cicek londs nrc llsed to some ext('lIli in wes{.el'l1 Stutes. In this type of ]olld the. slI('ks nrc plnced on ('nd six to nine rows wide. There 11rc two lnY0J'S; thc s('('ond !nYCI' is plu(pd on n tcmpol'lll'Y slntted 1'l1el\: or deek No dp('k is plne'ed between the clo()]'wnys.

LOllds of lO-]lOlllld Sl1eks fire IllTnnged with the slleks lying down. FSllully tlJ(' lond is 1:3 rows wide. und 7 OJ' X .lnyel's high nut! eon tains 2,:iOO sllcks.

The so-calht\ pyramid lond is inquiL(\, gencJ'ul usc for lnJ

MAUKE'l'ING ONlONS 25

TAIlJ,r) 5.-TraIl87JOl'taUon t'//(/!'gcs on Of/ions froll/. repl'escnt(Jt/v~ 8hippitlfl po'i'nts to New York (lnd Chicago J

--------,.-------_.-;------------- -- .." -~----I "'relght,rule Ill'r 100 (' hnrges Cor 1 IJOunds t.o'' currl~rs'

heoter Sbippiu!: polut, Jlllnhuiull w~lght DC (.'nrlolld ~l'rvlce to

C'hll>lgo .-.-----~

XI'\\' Y[lrk C'hrcngo Ill'r 100 pou;1ds

-~~---- ~--~"-"'- '---1' ('l'nUt P""711I~ ! I'flll.Y

('onclJelin, ('nJiC..... tnl Stockton, ('nirC ' . If)! J~ock)f Fonl, ('010. , 12J1, '3;"nrnpn, ldllho .. I;!SI~ "'IKimlllell, 1m! . flU '3Pleasont Vulll'\' IOIl'!l (,S 13 Jlnd!l'Y, l\Iuss . , 24 ..Hooper. ]lUcl!.. . . 411 " .. ,EIlJU, X. L., ... . 2S.I!,! MeGutley. Ohio .. . -45 I3rooks. Oreg ...... . Hit I;llredo, rl'ex'_.~"4. 114 {'orpus (,hrjsti. 'l'l'x lOS Ynkiwu, ""ash .. 151 IUOlllltldll!C, !>linn. ill , I-----------'-_ ....- .._--------_.!....._-

1tfh.:se Toies us of DeCl\mh~r 1\1:15 nre llrp:o;l'utl'd 1II.-n'ly to ~hO\\ tlpproxilllHte trnusjJorlllUuu ('linrges und r,ln hll"~ 110 stnncllrllf Illllcl)URfill~ ('!alllls wil It IIII' ('lIrrler.',

-'!illinium chllrgu (ler cllr .$11. , ,\lllIlmum churge Pl'r cur $t~. M Illllllum chur~e pl'r cur $10,

STORAGE AND SHRINKAGJ~

A part of the lntc-onion crop is placcd in sto/'ngc at hnTyest time or before freezing weather sets in fo/' nW\'('lllen t in to consumption d !Iring the Inte fn.lI, willter, and (\al'ly spl'ing, In n, lHl1nbC'1' of important bte('rop Stntes from one-llfllf to tlu'ce-fourths of the crop is usunll" stored. Stocks remaining in tIle lwnds of growers find dealers OIl .J:illUfl1'Y 1 nre estimn.ted annually by the BU/'enu of Agric'ultllJ'al Economics, They vary mnong the Stutes nnd l'illlge roughly hom 20 to 50 percent of the .production. Fo/' the entire Jilte ('rap of the yeurs 1932-35 stocks III the hands of growers nnd denIers on .TaBunry 1 following the yenr in which the crop wns prodlH'ed Tonged from nbout 2,900,000 sncks of 100 pounds, or 3] percent of production for the 1934 crop to about 4,000,000 sucks, Ol' 35 percent for the ] \)32 CI'Op (blble (3). Roughly two-thirds 01 these stocks l11'e llsunlly held by growers (table 7).

A ltuge part of the stol'llge stock is moyed into consumption by the end of :March or the middle of April before the l1ew crop from Texas begins to arrive on the mlll:Jwts. Usually 110t oyer 3 or 4 percent of the lnte-crop shipments llre made ufter April 1.

Occasionally small lots of early 01' intermediate-crop onions hnve been stored for limited periods hu1iresults have genernlly bepn nnsatisfllCtOl'Y because of slu'inkllge nnd WlIstC'. In northern ']'exas, however, ol1ions fire frequently stored Itt hl1l'Yest time ill June und ure held un til late full,

26 'rEOHNICAI:' BULLE'PIN 555, U. S. DEI"I'. OF AGHlCUUI'UnE

TABLE 6.-neZatlon oj stocks oj Inte-crO]l oniolLs 'in 'muds oj gtowers al/d defller.s .llw. I to 1JI'Or/lldiO'lt, b!J States, crops oj J(J.'/!-8:j

IU:l~ t'rop

Hel,, Hcln Ill'IIl' Heln Stut" tiOIl tiOIl !.lOll llon.Pro" Pro Pro 'Proto to to toduc l!t.ocks dllc, Stocks dllc, dlw, ~tockspro' pro pro' protloll tiOtl tlon tiOIlduc tlu~ (/11(" dUc,

!.lOll tion tiOIl tloll . "---.-,--------------------.. --

1.000 1,000 Pcr- 1.000 1,000 Per.. J,ooo J,m Per- I/JO') I'rr1/1)0/stlck.I( I suck., 1 celle. a"1k., 1 suck., 1 cent !Yllck'~ t SUCk,'11 Ctllt .'tOC!:jtl RudiN 1 celli Mnssnrhllsolls .. 700 140 20.0 {lOa Jn~ 21.9 810 Hli 18.0 740 7\ 10.0 ,.""cw York... 2,105 71U a4.0 2,021 (1\7 a2.() 2,4i5 70i al. () 2,:llJO ao. (J l'eIlIlS),IVlluln:::: f>() 0 12.0 a8 .Ia.2 5a la.2 Ii) 11\1:1 14.8,JOhlo _ 797 all :1\1.0 227 40.0 aou 41. I 4:12 a:.l. I Indlllllll . J,759 580 aa. U 7M;Mi'l 272 ali. 0 181 HIS 40. \I nau ~~11 41.() " 1I111101s_ 124 !iO 40. a 04 211 1fI. a :i2 1:1 40. U as 2S \lsW~lichlgull ........ 1, 5~7 82fi 52.0 liUlI 0\4.0 1,828 731 10.0 1,5241 M. U \\'1~conslll ....... 192 fi8 30.2 I'f~ ao 18.0 1/)2 1 30.2 1(11 01 ai. U 1\1 illne~otllo [,28 oa 11.11 -184 48 Y. U 120 ;~~I 20. ,I 7041 lIa 1ft I low!! .. 2231 25 10.8 1a4 13 U.7 (i3 10 15. U :l2 III.S1,,1,Itlnho.. ' 40S 211. II :195 51 12. Y till 81 10.0 ~(I~I I III 110 ('olorll

27 MAltKE'J'ING ONIONS

is ~iven as 5 to (j mouths Imd the iwel'llg0 froezing point of onioIls ItS ao.ouo. The cireullu' st,utes that onions IU'e not pel'ceptibly injul'ed hy slight freezing if 11l1owed to thaw out slowly find without rough ]1I111dJing.

In the constl'uetion of common RtOl',!iges for onions pl'Otection f'('om :frel'zing tempcraturcs and propel' ventilation are c!esimble (fig. 9), In vcry (',old weathel' stoves m'e somet.imes used to prevent freclling in. the COIll111on storages.

l~nte-cl'op onious held for sale during the spring months are kept best in cold stol'flge. Cold-storage spllce is Il,Yllila ble find is llsed to some extien t in leading producing ltrellS and in city markcts.

It is n, general pt'nctiee to screen the onions and remove the cull.;; before stol'ing, Slatt.ed ern tes or lugs u~uall.r holding 1 to 2 bushels liTe gcncl'ul1y used for storage stoel\: (fig, 10), A crnte commonly llscd in the North Centrn.l States hns inside dimensions of 12 by 14 by 180[' 20 inclles. Sack", of 100 or 50 pounds capacity Ul'e also used. Crates arc often stn.ckecl with spuces in many ll1'3tullees every 5 to 10 rows to obtain pl'Opel' ventilittion. When stored in sacks slatted l'lu'ks nfC often llsed so that seyemllayers of sacks can be st::lred with air spaces between thc In.yol.'s (fig. 11):

There is eonsideru.hle shrinkngc ine1uding wn.ste nnd deteriorn.tion in stomgc onions. Report'! hom BPId represen ta.tives of the Burenu in lending produl'ing Stu,tes indicnte thut shrinkage in common stol'age to Febl'llfl.r'y 01' 1\[lIl'el1 fl'equelltiy n.lI1ounts to from 5 to 20 percent und is often nbout 10 pereent, III instances when stol'llge conditions nre unfnYOl'HhIe nnt! defertiyc stO('" hIlS not heen removed before the storing tnkes l)luce the shl'illknge sometimes nmounts to from 40 to 50 Jl('/'('(,Ilt. SllI'jnkage nnd otliel' loss find wuste in stornge onions to ,Tn11uary 1 vnried hom 6 pe1'e(\nt to 13.8pe!'('ent :for thc el'Ops of 1932-35 (tlthlc 7).

IndiunlL Agl'icuiturllJE)xpel'iment Stn.tioll Bull!:.tin 393 4 discusses {'mlS{'S of shril1knge in ~tvJ'ed onions anti other phase,> of onion stornge. It, fitn.tes that shrinkage in storuge is mainly from sprou ting, rooting, lind decay. Some vnl'ieties nre more subject to loss from rooting tlllIn others. . Hn tcs chnrged fot' ouioll-s{ol'llge spnce YIlTY 1l1l1ong the districts. In 1935-36 II. llsunl seflsonnl charge ior commOn stornge in a number' of lending States ill the North Centml and North Atlantic regions was 6 to 10 cents pel' bushel 01' per cmte. The charge per hundred pounds for scasonul sto1'l1ge in t11e Western Stntes and also in other Rtntes is generally from 10 to 20 cents and usually about 15 cents. Cold-storuge rates in westem New York in 1935-36 were stated us nhont 16 eents per bU'3hel crate to April 1 and 2 cents Del' crn.ie additionnl if kept in stol'llge after that date. .

Considerable quantities of onions are stored in city markets, the .volume vll,rying with supply and price conditions. Most of the onions stored in the cities are placed in cold stol'l1ge. Stot'llge space is reported as adequate in the leading mal'kets. Reports indicate that tlbout 2,000 ('HI'S tumually are often stored in 20 lending 111111kets. New York City monthly cold~storage l'ates on onions in carlot quantities weTC approximately 5)~ to 6)~ cents per 50~pound sack in October Hl33. Th{,l'e was nIso n.lHmdling chnrge of 1}~ cents per snek .

CI.E,\ n:n, JI. 111. STUI(Any. rONI>ITlCINS, (H'.\I.IT\', !'[lln: TJt~:NIlS, ANI! Til Em JlELATION TO PIIOYITABLE ONION ~TUIUGB. Ind. Agr. Espl. iHn. Hull. 3113, J I 1'1'., iIIus. 103'4.

http:H'.\I.IThttp:Slatt.ed

28 TECHNICAL BULLE'l'IN 555, U. S. DEPT. OF AGlUCUL'fURE

'FIGt;IU: D.-A COllllllon storuge house Cor oniolls in a northern district well constructed Cor protectiollugninst' cold with udequate venLilution Cncilities.

l

29 MARKETING ONIONS

30 TECHNICAL lJULLE'J'lN 5.jii, U. I:;' DEl"l'. (H' AGltlCL'L'I,'cnE

FINANCING THE CROP

Costs pCI' act'c of growing, IlltrYcsting, and packing onions YHIT widely on difl'erent. farms nnd in diffcrent pu,rts of tllc United Stutes. Vltrintions in culturnl practices, eHieiency of growers, growing conditions, and local plices of ltthor and supplies 11,I'e file tors influencing tJlC costs. Somc of the items en tiering in to costs of ollion growing, harycstin~, Imd pncking are costs ofsced, set'> or plants, fNtilizel', and ('ontalller's, and watcr in il'rigltted distriets. In addition, thel'e arc ('osts of labor, mnchinel~', intcrest, and tltxes. TOlill1 ('osts including both Cllsh olltluy and othel' costs oftcn ltl1l01lnt to scycrni hundred dolilll's per 11,('I'C.5

~'fany flLrmers ltllye heen able to finance the prod uetiol1 of tJa'il' onion ('rops ill most yelll's. Stll,tcs in which It llUljority of the growers finlll1ce the produetion lind }mrn'sting of their own (,l'oPS Ilceording to rcccnt reports include Ncw Jerscy, Kew York, Ohio, :Miehign.n, Inclin,nu" ~1inl1csotll, the Arktwsns Vallcy in Co10l'tI.d0, western Or('gon, n,nd Californiu..

In some IlrCIlS the largcst. growcrs nrc H.lso shippers who USllIIU~' finn,ll('C their own ('rops or IUTllnge fOl' filln.llein~ tlJroll~h eit~ dellirrs 01' 10Hn lIgcn('ics. They oftell mllke ndYIIl1('CS Lo the smallel' growt'l's.

Jt is n, common pl'lll'tice ill some distr'l('ts bl' shippl'l's to make Il.dyanees to the growcrs for seed or pln,ll ts, fel't.illZCI') 11 nl! othl'l' expcnscs. In ']'rxns thcse ndnll1ccs often nlllount to $30 to $40 pel' llCI'(', from Odober to M'llrch. In such cnsps the shipper usually mllrkets thc onions fOT II, fixed ('hllrge prl' suck 01' on 11, ('ommi

31 MAUKE'),lN(l ONIONS

f1ITll.ngeei for' Iiuu;l1cing through Ylu'ious sourees oth('r thlLn /llll.r'ketillg Ilgt'uei('s or (\on.l(')'8, In stw\t instnnn('s tho grower is :fl't'n tn RPIl as jJe pleases lind lIsually sells for' elLsh Ilt the Joeu,l shipping poin tor' I1t tJle fllI'm,

J.'fn,llY onion growers gl'nde their' own {'I'OPS on the .fllrm H,nel ha\'e suHieient yol.ume to load eILl'S , In suell instanees sales nre often made to locnl elen.Jc)'s 01' other buyers at shipping poin t 011 11 Cllr.lOtu:! basis iOl'ctlsh, Growers Illso sell n,t !twill detlleJ'S' wIlrcilouses on It gr'adcd or' uugrn.ded basis.

JII some distriets when ndvllnee of funds 1ms been mnde to gj'owf'rs by shippers or denJcr's the shippt,l' 01' den.lt'r llUlrkets tile (TOP for the grower who is ('huJ'gNI iL sj)eeilicd ilmount }ll'r slLek or' tL ('ollunissioll, The 1lJ1l0unt of tho n.dnllH'o is deducted hefore pn,yult'ut is mnde to the, growel', City dCiLLers who hll\'e IlCh'IUH'ed flillds to eOllutt'y shippel's OJ' llLrgc growers SOIlwtimes hllIldle the ollions on n. join til('('ount bnsis.

'l'Le n.dn'ut of the lllotortruek lul.s brougbt Il.bout nhanges in onion Il1n,/'kt,tillg in prod u('illg ar'ens, l!]stillULtes indimte thut in 193:3 Iwd 19:34 about one-t.hird of the onion ('1'0]) Jllon~d to consuming ll1nrkets by t.ruck, A huge Piu't of the mot.ortruck movement; i" bought from the gr'owcrs fol' ('ash Itt t.he fHrIlls, MUIIY onions iu'o bought by mer('\mnt. tru('\unen. City dCll.iers often use the truek in moving their pUl'chllsCS to Jlw,r'ket.

Gl'()w{'r's who ILI'n DelLI' 1ill'gO markets sell some onions in these murkl'ts to deniers, rett1ill'l's, n,nd ('onSlllllCl'S,

In eOIllIll('J'ciILl onion distJ-icts shippers lllily be clnssed liS lueal deuJer's, ]'ejJresHIrtn,tin's of city deniers, 01' tmveling cHsh buyers. ~hny of the lo{'ut d{~ltlNS llre shippel'-growcl's.

(,nrlot salt,s by siJippers to city deulcrs nrc often on lUI f, o. b,busis lIJtllOugh mllny delin'red sules ILre mll,de n.nd in lwriods of heu,yy supply some shipments lu'e consigned to be handled by the city dealer on Il commission basis, The eommission chlLI'bred in the ltu'ge 1I11lI'kets is usulI.lly 7 to ) 0 percent of the snle pl'iee.

No uttempt is lUndc here to discuss ill detoil the Illethodsused in mnI'ketillg ouions ill the commer(,iul Itrans but 1L brit'f stll,tement of Jllt'thods in lIsn ill ] Ha5 ill [l f(w lending Ul'eils follows:

As 11, rough estinw.te \)0 pen'put of the :MnsslLdlUsetts onions are bought by'shipjwJ's 1'1'0111 the growers when pn.eked !I,t the fItI'm or bought on n. tIPliv(,l'od bnsis by dettlers in the mtLrkets within trucking distllU('e.

1n \\I'stel'll n.nd ccntl'lll New York most growcrs sell to cnsh buyers 01' loml shippers, These shippers often pack the olliollS for shipment in their Wllrcbouses lLnd sell on lin f, 0, b. 01' deliverod blLsis. Gl'Owers nlso spU to truckers und OllllllLl'kets in the In.rge cities nearby. Loenl shippt.\l's often l'{l(\eivc orders from city firms n,t spe

32 TECHNICAL BULLE'l'IN 555, U. S. DEPT. OF AGIUClTL'I'UJm

and speculu,tors for

33 l\lAH.KETING ONIONS

or Fedcrul-Sttltc employees through inten-iews with sllippers lind dealers.

Federal lind Stllte ngcncies issue l'cports periodicnl1y tluough the season on crop prospects,lwrcnge, and pr'obable production. A. weekly sUllllllnry of clll'lot shipments is issucd cUJTently by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. This report contains inionuMion on shipmentsby Stlltes, with. comparisons with the prCy101.lS week and corresponding week of the pl"eyiOU8 seaSOll, and iniorllls shippers, denIers, and growers of the progress of the marketing operntiolls.

Bulletins and specinl l"eports are aVllilable tlu'ough Federal and Stllte Hgencies relating to vlll-iOUS uspects .of the ollion illdustJy which should be he.lpful in marketing the crop. Information f1'0111 tl'llde and priYilte SOlll'CeS OLl SU]lPLYl pr-iee, and other phases of marketing is Illso aVlLilable thl"ough tmde pilpe1'S, press releases, and private market re]lorts.

On tlw whole onIon growers Imel shippers Ill'e well supplied with illformation on which to base intelligent marketing operations.

METHODS OF SHIPMENT

CARLOT AND BOA1' SHlI'MENTS

In recent years roughly two-thirds of the moyement of onions to consuming markets has been by l"u.il aod boat. Stl1tes that are at long distllnces from the large ellstern and midwestern ll1ad,:ets ship larger proportions of their crops by rail and boat than do Stlltes that nre within n, few Inmdred nilles of important lllltrkets.

Curlot and bOIl.t 1110ycment for the entire United States in the calendar years 1920-35 rnnged from 28,Oi:i5 CIU'S in 1932 to 39,577 cars i111930 (table 8). ..Alllllrlll shipments for 1931-35111lye averaged considcl'!lbly Jess than fol' 1920-30. This is probably duellll'gely to I1n increase in sbjpments bytl'UC'k. Slightly less thlln GO percent of thecoll1lllercial l)I"oduction for the Tears 1932-34 WllS shipped by raiiand bOllt.

TAlJLE S.-Carlol (/.lId boat shipments oj onions by Slales, aNd calendar years, 1026-85

Celrs Cllr$ Cars Cars Curs Cur$' (hr8 Cllrs ('lIr3 ('(IrsAJllblllll!l. ~ .........

Ari:WlHl"ri ._ .. _H ..... ~ 20

7 -"---5- :::::1:-0': ::::::3:= ------1- -----n- ------3- ......:i" . -..... ------__ 10 J 1 ___.,.___ ._....._..... _________Arkllnsus .... ~ .. '"_. Ii

CnliiornilL . 3, ,IOJ :1,0:-.5 'J.31O 1,30:1 4,00i 3, fiGl 2,OJ8 2, !IR7 2,850 2, 306 CoJorudo .. , .. ..... 1,034 1,4011 2,1:U 2,0111 3,J3j 2,135 1,(1(13 1, 58l t,545 1,301Floridu _... , :l 20 4 ~ Georglu.__ .. 2 J. :l -I " ------:)" :::::::: ::::::: ::::::.: :::::::: Iduho_.. __ . ~ 010 8:lfi 1, 181 014 055 1,4S' !!tm I,Oaa 2,252 2, H}(jIllinois............ . 211 .JaG 168 HU 137 102 137 5-t 15 25 lndhlllu.... 4,"85 4,7SIl ~J, 321 -', 625 0,532 4, 102 3, 77H :!, iOi 1,346 tJ03 lo\\a_ ...... ~. . .. ~ __ ~ 1,+Hl J, 3~'O 1, .J5~ 1, 'I!J!J 1, 7~g S3f 9U~ i:l~ 131. OIHKunsas_.... _.. _ 2' 22 Kentllcky.. _._. J~i5 14-1 71 59 12 :18 13 J3 '-"'io' ----"ii l ..ouisiunn." ~ __ .. ~ .... 1.72 2&i J(H JlO ~'O 107 30 24 109 80 l'>[nryllln(L_ ..__ ... _. . 1 3 1 Mllssuchusotts__ ... . ~t! 155 ;,' ~15J 1.),8/.~~ -"i;Si-hj" --i~i)75' -Tiiiii" ----7iJj" 532 "i;iJ;ii' -----48:1M Ichigllll _____. _._ M.lllllcsotll____...__ 2,0W ]-',"l~!~ -1',~~~50 2,550 4,flOa '.1,000 3,2i2 5,:H2 fi,7t16 3,\)84700 0" _. 1,3112 .1,105 &;:'1.1, aUi 1,7,10 264 2,067Mississippi. ____. 2 1 1 _____ '-' _ _. _ ._._." _______ .. --- ...-- . ....."'-,..~~l\1issQuri. ________ . ,l~ !J 4 1 1 2 (j .j 3 1\1 olllnllll ____ .. __ ._ .. o ,,_ - _______...____.,_ J __ .'."J.I 25 16 r. N'ol)nlsku __ ....... . i I 7 17 U 7 Jl 8 U 8 'N'evudu ____ ~., ~ ... ~. ~ 28 25 02 ii al U8 27 1i7 52 39 Nnw Hnl11})shirc ____ . 12Now Jer5CY.. __ ~. __ _ !UH ~~Ig I"~-:J3i'

I PreliminarY.

])1027t"-:_l7_~;

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34 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 555, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICUL'l'URE

TABLE S.-Carlot and boat shipments oj onions by Stales, and calendar years, 192(j-3{j-Coll ti II ued

tStllte 1926 1027 1028 HI2IJ .1U:!Il HI:l1 1032 lU:I:1 1 1\1:14 11135 I .--

Kew 1\[cx!CO_ ....Kew York___ . North ClIrolinll,':North DllkoUl ___ Ohio __ .. ,. Oklllholllll. _. Orel!OlL_~ .... ___ J'cllllsrlvllllill.

('ur.~ 12

4,072 2

I I; !Ji7' 115 tiS1

no

Curs 17

01,138

11 3,761

!)

5116 ~n

Cur.~ 23

2,:Ia5

J~ 2, 2If)

18 781l

23

Orr., I

3,464 2

HI ~, 7aa

Il 0101

27

Cur.~ I

a,082 II

2,~"ln 17

016 5

Cur., 7

a,soo 4

25 1,917

80 IjtfJl

17

Curs .,

2,711

.. 1,257

00 Ol!!

1

Cur., ')

2,ooi

I, ~~)U ,Ill

700 !)

Cur., U

4, lIla a

7m (H

1, 14S 5

Cllr.; 17

3,716 1 4

526 74

1,:157 5

SOllth ClIrolinll. no IS 16 8 6 7 18 5 8 7 SOllth Dnkow 1 3 I ~rcnJlcssec _.. Tcxns. etnh... O' yerllloIlL .... Virginia .. '".' \\Cashllll!loll .. '" isconsin Wyoming .. ".

TotllL

il,:U7 4. O~S 7.0$1

.1 fiji 57U J, (~;7

[) a 1 178 1:1I 178

I, ZI8 ],20(} 1,1!!U

I 2a5 2!nl :H3 III .I 5 1---

-;;~0l13:0i5! :Ia, 0,,0

I 1,2:12

801 2

2:11 J 127

2;m I

:lH,1121

Ii,ai i -5,718 ~,:H2 uno 527 330

7 2 1 lOll 1-17 III

1,420 1, :l5G l;tO 2U:I ~2.1 21B

a! I,.. _... ':;.1,7):D-I~s: I~~:;an,5i7

1,1121 6,1:12 0188 725

as lla lilt; '1, 104 197 72

28, a;;;;'1 all. Slir.

~~~7;274

702

75 1,484

159 6

~~l, 73.1

IPr~limillllry.

Texas lends nIl other Stutes in volume of earlot find bout shipments and .ill 1935 shipped 7,274 ettrs, 01' tllmost one-fourth of the entire shipments of the country. :Michigan and New York are next in order as to volume of shipments. These three Stutes combined usually account for ubout one-llalf of the United Stutes shipments. Thirty Stll t.es originated elll'1ot 01' bont shiPlllents of onions in 1935.

In some Stutes there 'WIlS a pronounced trend in shipments during the 10-yenT period ]926-35 (tahle 8). The two chief enuses of these changes ill volume of shipments fire ehanges ill production and ill('rellses in movement by tIue!". The deerease in M.assl1cbusetts eurlot shipments 'wns due f'.liidly to increased truck movement. The 111('rellRe in 1\'liehigan shipments is explainad by increasing production iu tllnt Stnte.

Carlot and hont shipments by erop years ure shown in table 9 for the sensons 1920-:27 to ] 934-35. The ('rop-movement seuson for onions is {'onsidered ns beginning with shipments in 1\1I1rch from eurly-cl'op Ul'etlS fmd ending in June of the follo\\"ing yetu' when the lnst shipmen ts ure wude of .lute-nop onionsprodueed in the previous yenr und held in stornge. During the period 1920-27 to 1934-35, the ('rop TenT shipmen ts for the United states mnged fl'oJll 27)842 curs in 1933-34 to 40,281 ('!U'S ill 1929-30.

The carlot find bont, mowmeut oJ onions includes considernble quantities shipped by bont pnrticulady from Texas find Cnlifol'l1ia. In the l'eports published by the Bureau of Agricultlll'ni Economics the boat shipments nre not segregnted from the cndot Tail shipments. A luTge part of the bout Jl10yement is destined to New York City with some bont shipmeJlts going to other POl't cities. Some idea of the yo]ume of bout movement is obtnined from the fuet thut, in 1935, bout unlouds of onions at New York City wel'e eqwvulent to 1,866 carloucis, mostly from Texus. Very few onions nrc shipped by mil in less thun cilllots.

In considering the volume. of onions shipped in carloads it should be kept in mind thn t the usual cUl'lol1d ill the 'VesterB Stn.tes-Calif'ol'nia, "rnshington, Oregon, unci Idaho-is 600 50-pound sacks insteud of 500 which is the usuulload in most other Stutes.

35 MARKETING ONIONS

TARLE g.-Carlot and boa I, Ship1l1crtt8 of om:on,sby ,')tales and crop lIc(lrs, ./920-27 to ./98;'-85 1

____S_l!_lt_c__._I~I~:lw!!S{II~ 1!)31~ 10:\1;12 ~~~ runl Cflr,~ On O~ On On O~ O~ ~~

Alabama ...... .. i ArizotHl~ ....... _~ 21 2 --.~. '11

Arkllnsns.... I, IO "--10' "''''ii' J 1

C,,!ifornlll...... .. :l, OJ:! :1,753 1, 4!l2 4. HI 4,IHI2 3, as.!

Colorndd , .. 1j 7(",; I, ,ltal 2.211 '1, (}12 2,124 1,4H2

}'loridIL . , ... 2 20 -1 a Georgiu~ _. ~ ~ _ 2 1 2 4 a Idauo., , .. ii:ll SOl J, Iii:.! 731 077 ~~KI Illinois... lr",~ 1,12 ISO H2 lila ]52Indillull . ,I, ,ilia (. wo :l,II!W fI, 1115 O,S71l 4,87,~10w>I.. __ t"t:H 1,3:\3 1.4:10 1.4(12 1,762 I,\~\\KllnSus .. 10 24 4 10 r. I Keutorb' 1a1 115 flO 6U 12 l!l l..ooisinnn 1nn !!$8 )(}I JIO ~>(I alllI.illryllllld . 7 I 3 1\lllssurhuselts !i, rtH(i 2 . .,{ls 1,4W -~i:S[rt~ i:~17.i." --i;-~Ul(l- ......f,\l7Michi~un., 2,171 ~. (ir~i !!,tW1 2. UlH fit WU 2, 800 ., t ,inMitUlesotll. .. th~,1 I, :!~u I, (iii J .[.I6 .1, IH ,,10 1,;;2,Mississippi. .. ,. ~ J ___ .""j" :

MissourL ...... . ,II 10 ..... '" ..!~. ~~--"7" ... ~- .. .,.3 MOllll1l1l1 .... . I~ 11 Hi 5 n .~ ... 1Nebr.lsk'L .. 5 15 ]0 S .17 .... 's .. -0 ~ Ne'lIdl1... .' 10 51 Ii-! 57 47 W 4S 41 WNew Hampshire 12 (\ ~ Ken' Jersey !!1I:t ~'f15 ":I:!:i 2:\0 Non' .1>lex;(o W 1:1 ')'~ 'J New York :~. 720 ,1,102 J.807 :J,!lS5North ('nrolinll 2 2 ....... """:t ....__.:;North ])111 .I, au, ow 52!i

Okluholllll ........ . (If} \I IS u oti 10 Ii~ Ore~nn.,. ". fi7~ nil mia IlOO 510 J, ans 1,123f'ennsyh'uniu. '14 2S 16 !!S 1 U 5South (~nrolil1u" flO IS 18 Ii IS 5 8Soulh J)nkotn ____ ... a 1 I ~J'eune..'-;.'iec~ ~ 'l'exn.~ , ____ ..... 5,:116 'T{~i' ';~~r ::~::~i~~ ::~:i;~: ::::;;;:j,i:\\~ l'tuh. tlU~ liii4 1,0211 \lnO ;;51 4\15 ,172 YermOl1t_ r. :l ,I 5 4 2 J Virginia I7S 131 17S 2:H HJ'J I" aI I"'IL~hiul(tOll . ; 1,2(Ul 1, :i(J~ ,J. J5:1 .I.1J7 .I~ HH I, !..l1m ftlf)"to is('ou~in , . ;, ~70 27U 2114 ~41 ~ I U lIl!! 2:1\1

Wyol1liu~ U ; 1 G ,. 1':--'-1-'fotlll ; a:l. Uti2 a5.11)2

J ~Ilhc crop Sl'al.1:01l fc)r onions extl'uds [rom i\ltlrt'h of J y('ur 10 .June- of thl' (oliuwiug- renr.

J\lOl'Olll'HU(,K 8 JiI I'M ENl'S

l\lon'mrnt oJ onjons to m:lrkrL by motortru('k .hns hr('OIllf' incl'rnsinf!;I~' im pOl'tnl1 t d urinf!; 1'('('('11 t yelu's: The use of the {ruek in 111l1l'ketjUf!; onions tUld otber' Y('grtn hlrs bec:une gcnernl.in Ule J)(Irioci following the \Yodd Wnl', In 1920 tru('k 11lO\'en1ellt W:lS or minor imporlnllce bu t suC'hdn in, ns exist show thn t by ] n~10 1'0 u!.';hIy (me-fUth of the onion 1Jlo\'('1l1ent WilS by tl'Uck. DlI,I'ill'g the bUSIness dc:'pressioll trucking .inl'l'ensecl (~onsidl'rnbly so thnt hy 15)34 ubout one-third or t]w onioll shipJlwllts to mnrket l11on'd by tl'ud(. lleeords oj' truck 11l0\'eJlwnt by Btntps similnr to the carlot-nnd bont~shipm(,lJt stntistiC's Hl'e l10t Hynilabk'. Onions moved by truc.k to StUtiODS or whn.1'YC~S i'OJ' farther shipm('ot by ruil or bout aTe not inelueled in these estimlltes of truck lllOvemC'nt,

Pl;odtlClllf!; arens t11nt lllW(', import.unt mnrlwts within n. l'ndius of about 200 miles ship Jl1I'ge quuntities by 11'ue\c 'rho q linn ti ty sllipped by truC'k is also inllUC'llced by the methods of sn.le I1nd mflrkHing control of the crop. Probab1y 80 pCI'C'('ntof the New JersC'y shipments moved to murket by truC'k ill 1035. Similur ('stilJlllt{'s JoJ' some of tbe other States were: M.ussachusetts, 65 to 70 percentj New York, 55 to

http:gcnernl.in

36 'rECHNlCAL BULLE'l'IN 555, U. S ..DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

60 percent; Michigan, 15 to 35 percent.; California, 30 to 45 percent; Texas, 10 percent (t.able 3).

MOVEMENT BY MONTHS

The murket. compet.ition nmong onion-producing States and among shipments of the eurly, intermediate, und late crops is indicated by the volume of shipments by months from ench State and group. Average curlot and boat shipments by months, States, and groups for the period 1930-34 Ilre shown in tuble 10. :Movement of late-crop onions is j"(\lt1tively light after March ulthough 11 few lltte-crop shipments are made as late as Jun.e. Usually only about 3 percent of the Jate-crop endot shipments move n.fter April 1. The lnrgest monthly movement is in Septembrr and October. In euch of these months ll.y"emge clll'lot unci bOllt shipments in 1930-34 were slightly more thun 4,000 CHI'S. The u:vrrage monthly movement by curlot nnd boat ruuged from 5.2 percent of the yenr's movement in July to 12.9 per

TABLE lO.~Carlot and boat shipments of onions by States and mon/hll l average 1980-84 -------------~'--_:_--_:__-___;_---,----e-'-------------___:--____:_--

Crop,groull.nll l lSln1.e I~L~~.J.;'lllr. 1~1-:~.~-J...~~:J~L:~.~J~~~i~1 )10\'. I~I 'ro\n\_

}:nrh': 1 Cars Cllf,' nIT,' Ca'3 Cflf3 ('Of3 I 01'" Cars 01'3 ('.f8 Car$ ear> Gil.. J_ouisinnn. _.. ..... . ........ _,. It 1.2 2.'i. f 43.0 4." O. -I O. -I 0.2 76.0

're.')\5.-._._..._.. __ ".' ... _. __ .. n..2j 27. 2,020.2 3,070.' 319.0 12.6 ............ _ """"'_ 5,44U.O

CIlI/Corrlla' ............... '- _... _." 3. ;''6.2 3;:1.0 2:15.G , ......... _ '_, .......... """_"_ Oa8.0

pr~~iJ~:~:::=::=::::~::.::.::::.. , ..1 .:~ :::::. : ... ,L::::::::: -.:"_: ::' , .2.2 ... _~4. _::::::::: 3:g1 'l'o.(IlL--.-..--.- ---............ - '.0 I '-"1" 3.0, 0" ~2.(~;s.T -3..wo:2597-;'I-I;O . --.--1 ~-' -. .--.---;u.---.,-t-; ~ ti.i67.2 --.------------I~-----

InteR~~~Y~~~y _......--..__ .- -..... --~l-,-.-,-- -~~- -.-......~.. =~~ '--;:- --::0- ....-~~ ~-o~I_~ '_~-- ~__-==~~ VlrgJllJll .......................... _.. ' ! IS. S 72.0 2.:> 1 " Y3.0

K'el,ltuckr................ ".... . . 1 10.6 12..0 .11 'I 23.2 ~ 'J'cxns (north)............. .' ,,_ .2 ! .2 VI 820.8 m. ,I fl. 0 2.. 'i \. .4 896.4! _ 10wI1 (~t'lltt COIllJty).. .. "'" . ; :101.0 tl;;.! :1.6 .2 " 400.8 t:: W~hil1gton (Wnll" Wnll" dislrllll._ .41 8.6 275.2 212.0 30,U 1.0 527.2 '"" CnllforniIl 1 ................... _...... ___ ' . 22.8 ,,17.11 -l10.0 . ! 1,170.4 t::l

..;::R!g:t1:n~~~oWn;:::::::::: ..::::::--.. c -':.i .._:~. :::::::::: ......8 '\...: :~ ..; South Carolina.................... 1 f. :l.4 5. 0 , 4 K 8

QGcor~ill..........._.... _......... ' ... '/' - 'I' 1.0.2 I" 1.2 ZI ~

Mississippi. ....................... I ..... _, .2 .......... ____ ... _ __.2

Ark.msns ............ .1 _. . - .. - .2.2 -----"'--1 " - .4 o

l\lIssouri...................... "j' .._.. ,i .2 1.8 .Il -I' ... 2.6 Z

Kausas. _ ........... .. .... " ... . I __ . . 1.6 .6 i .' _. .. 2.2 ....

Ne"-:1Ifexico......................... _ I " .2 1.1 .4 .1, 2.4 o

2: TotnL............". _........... _. 1,2 16 ~,2Sj~ 6 di.. ;!~Ii I

Latc: Enstcrn:

Mllssnrlmseit5................ 34.1 aD. 0 3-1.-1 7. Ii 1-.... "-""'-' 19H.O 461.0 HlO.4! :\\1.2 ~'U.{) I :l2.li I 1.0.)1.8New York_ . _........ _. _... _. _ 2Y:1.!l ~"12A 2;12.2 12\1,6 50.8 5.8 3.4 216.6 707.2 7:W.1i Iss.n a:!I.s :1,464.6

f,~~::~~t~l~i~~__:::::::::::::::~:.: :~ .... .'.:. :~ .... _:: .::::::::: :::::::::: :l:~ g .. :::: ......:2..::: .. ' .....:4. ~~ 'I'otaL __............... "..... --328. U~ --2IJo.'O --Jii7:4 -w:g----;:s 20-1.0 ----m:o -!iO,1;Oj---;u.o ~:2I------aii7.S ~

Central: =---==="'-==-=========== Ohlo______........._......... 33~ 0 274.0 liS.S I,.S 1.2 .0 I .2 3,1.6 IOS.n 157.0 121.0 227.0 1,486.0

IndinllU.......................... 008.2 501.2 :132.0 51.4 .4 __ ._.... .6 245.S (lOS.U no.s 344.0 :10,1.6 3,7211.0

tllinois....................... _... 4.1 litO 0.4 4.4 .._....__ .2 37.2 27.0 1.6 .4 .8 .6 101.0

Michigan........................ 56Q.4 594.[ 562.8 22'2.6 15.4 .4 .4 153.4 071.2 775.2 497.4 515.2 4,577.8

I In COrilpiling this table. shipments CroUi CaliCornia cOlllllles producing more thall 1 crop (enrly lm.llulo or intermediate 1l11llinte) hll\'o nrbitrolrii}" been cOllsillerellns early lor April 10 June inclush'c, anllinterruediate lor Mur. JUliO, aud July. ~

'I

l'AIlI,~j 10.-rariol (Inri boal shiJlII!(,I!I,~ of oniol/.,~ by Sl(/I('.~ (111t1 11/11111118, (Iverug/! 1.?.'IO-.'I4-Continllcd ~ 00

C'rop,grOllll, lind Sinhl JlIll. I~~~_:~..:~-'~~ ~I .\UI:. -I sept.' I OCi-L~L~I_'rotnl ..::: M ()Late-Continued.. :

('cntrlll-{'.ontlllllrli. . ('I/r.. I' C"r., ('(irS I'lIr.. CII" (llr" ('lIr., 'i Cn.. I (itr3 ('ars (llrs Cllr., Cars 0:: \\,is{'onsin.. 32 1\ 13.2 fl. 0 1. O. 2. S ! m.o 31.1 2!1.S 8. 0 H.O 195.0 Zl\linnO.G 173.0 151.2 ao.O 2O.S 4&;.0 North Ilakotll 1.0.11.2.2 i "" I ' . . 1..\ a.s .4 .2 7.S ~

t"Houth nnkotu. ,.2;. .- .1 _ .".1;. '11 ." .. .. .., .1.............. ............ .2

l'\ehm~ka. '1 L I; I.S I .s,.n - . .21 2.0 .2 1.2 8.2 t:I:fKnn~lls _.1;.2;.1 . ' . ' ...........! .2 1.2

Ml,sollri .. .2 i .' _ . _ ,.. .f ... .... ........ .2 C1

(Jkltiholllll.. .. __ .' L.. 9.01 ;m2t 7.0, _ ! ....,........ 55.2 ~ ~rolllL J,r,19 S 11~~[;~D=!-'~~~~L~~~~C~272i-l:2"~. f)O..~1 --61'lj.~1-2:~D z,.!:J.1~;i 1. 097. n I J,12O.S 11.7m.0 ..::

~ Z"'estern: 1 I ' 11 ,I!htllho . ,.... o;;.S ~Ull ,11.2 .q.I.i .2 I ....... _ . _..... _ ;\52. 3(J!i.2 j 318.4 ti!fl.O Il}l.tl t,~~6.0

('olormlo..... 117.11 aaz. 1 :1n-1.1l .J\!, S I 2.1 I ,2 f .1 i . ,I J1J2" ! Zl:!. Co I 1.0.1 24 1.0 I,SO!!.2 Ct l'tuh. . ;I,i 1 21. I , :It!. S I j. 0 ~ ........ . .. .. ~'il 2 ' 1110. Ii II>I. 2 5:1. 6 25. S 547.2 CI Xemdll." . _. 1

MARKETING ONIONS 39

For cuch of the YCIlrs 1033 lind 10:34 the Tnil und bont movement and estimu ted truck mOV

40 TECHNICAL DULLE'l'IN 555, U. S. DEPT. 0.1

41 MARKE'riNG ONIONS

DISTRIBUTION OF 5,088 CARS OF TEXAS ONIONS

BY STATES, APRIL AND MAY 1935

FJGl'ltE J3,-'J'exus olliolls uro widely disirihul.ed, In 1935, enrIot und hOllt shipmcnts :>I'cnt to 43 stutcs, ::Ifllrkct.s in Now York Stal.o rcccived ovcr ollcfourth of the movcment. Dilly n fcw shipments go to theWestern Stlltes.

UTiON Of' 4.534 CARS OF [lEW YORK-ONIONS ATES, SEPTEMBER 1934 TO APRIL 193"5

l"lGUUE 14.-Tbu principnlmarkets for New York oniolls ure ill the North Atlulltlc Stlltes, chiefly !'crJll. sylvanill uncl New York.

http:disirihul.ed

42 'l'ECHNICAL BULLEnN 555, U. S. DEP1'. OF AGRICUU!'URE

Some truck shipments move much gl'en.ter distances. For example, considemble quantities of :Micbigltll ttnd Inclifillfi onions go by truck to Atlanta, Gil.

FIGUltE l5.-Consumers in tho J,llst Nurth COlltrnl nnd North AlInntic Stlltes use n hlr~e pnrl of lhe l\fiehignn onion crop. 'l'ho volulIIU ofshiplllenls to Southern Slules is consi(leruhle.

TAIlLtJ 12.--Carlot mul bout shi]J'/Ilents of onionsfroll~ c1e.~i(11t(!terl1)roducing Stutcs io State's of destination, selected 1Jcrior/s

Ii April Inut! Seplmllher HJ:H \' Scptcmber W:l4 ,\IIl;' to April 11135 to Apl'ilLO~5 IIl!!5

Slllle of

43 MARKETIXG OXIOXS

Sources of onions that were unloaded, carlot and boat, in 1934, by regions, aTe shown in table 13 for 66 mal'kets grouped by regions in which located. This table shows that fOI' the Xorth Atlantic markets the chief SOll_fce of carlot supply is the South CentraI. States, prmCiplilly Texas, The North Atlantic States are also important as a SOUTee of earlot supply, and would be the principal sotu'ce of sllpply if truck shipments were considered. '\Yestern onions amount to about 12 percent of the carlot and boat unloads in the X Ol'Ut Atlantic markets.

TABf,E I3,-Carlot anel boat unloaels oj' ,mio'T/.s 'in 66 -markell', by r('(Jiol!.~ flri(Jillaiif!(J shipments, calendar year 1,984

, He;.:lon of oril!;in

: I i I . I Total Xorth I Xorrh South, SOllth I ',. :Foreign [ unlouds IAtlantic Central! Atlantic 1 Central \\ e;;l~rn : '~~~~,~- [ Iii I I;----------:------1------,---------

Cars Curs Cars Cizrs Car,l Cars CarsAlbany, X. Y____ ._____________ 20 16 56 22 123 Bostoo, Moss.....____ _______ 386 420 -.......r 432 162 -------32 1,436 Bridl!~port, Conn..___________ ---..-.... 1-, ... ----8~- A3_" 392 203~BuJfalo, X. Y _...._______ .... ii6 10 p " Hartford. Conn ___ ___ ___ _______ ...._._ 2S 34 14 76 Xewark, N.!_._._ .. ____ .______ 50 87 ....--'3- 18 167 Xew Un...en, Conn. _________ 7 39 2-1 -------jil- ---------- 80 ~e"- lock, N. Y . ________.__ 1,007 947 --'---':ii- 1,839 660 ------lis- 4,602 Phlladelphia, Pa....___________ 089 424 3 435 144 :1 1,997 Pittsburgh. Pa...... ____...____ 396 417 17 334 136 1,3aOPortland, .Mulne. ____________._ 07 43 5 31 14 100 Pro\~idence, R. I.,. ~_. ____.... ___ i; 62 tH 22 22"2 n..~hester. X, L______________ 7 1 5 67 21 --------6- 107 pringtield,).\I!l"l______________ ~ 1 28 l7 47;,:;cacuse, N. 'i __________..____ _ 52 10 64 Wort'ester, Muss.______________ 1 Ii 7 I 26

Xortb Atlantic_____ ._____ 3.114!. 2.559 76 i~1,;741"---158 ~ A1..-ron,Ohio ..________________ 6 3 2 --- ... .. -1 31201",---,,Cbit'ago,lJI.. ....______________ 70 669 1 615 I,Oll 1 I 2,367Cincinnati.Ohio_______._______ 47 302 ____ .. 16U 1l1l _______ ... j O:l-l Cleveland,Ohio_______________ 140 257 r 11 1~-S': 136 715 Columbus,Ohio. ______ ...___.. 17 41 I :2 ,40 148 Darton. Ohlo_ - ""_'" ____ . 2 23 ..._._ 9 3 37 Des "'[Oines, Iowa_.__________ .. -- _____:_ .19 '______... ~ 11!O8 1:J8 Detroit, Mich .... "" ___________ .0 .liH 4 268 15\} 785 .Duluth. Minn ......___________ 5 24 _..... __ 13 ~3 __ ._______ 85 .E"tlOs\-ille, hld. ___________ ..... 1 .2 ' ... _______ 14 11 L .......__ 98 Gra,nd .Raf~ids,' Micb.________ .. --------.. . .;1

1 ________ ._ 21, 19 -------... 49

Lndtnnnpo IS, lod ... ____________ 4 JOO _....... ___ 60 50 ... __ __ 214

Kansas Cicy, ;I.[o .. ________ ~. ________.. 3\ _......... 76 377\,. ' __ '''' 457

;l.filw3ukee. \l'is ..... ___..____ .. 0 US .. _______ 74 ll:l __ .....___ !lIB ;I.[inneapolis, Minn_______ .... _________.. 51 .. _... _... 47 150 248 Omaha, "ehr. _.......___..._.. .. _____ . 'i 19 14:1 J60Peoria, llL . ___ .... _____ .. _____________... 24 i 3.; 66 St. [,ouis. Mo._ ...____ __.._... 36 3:16 19.f 4211 995 St. Pnul, Mlnn.........___ _. __ __ ..... 15 15 58 SS SiOll)( City, lowa__ .........____ .. __ .____ 1 9 1;3 73 'I'erre Haute, 10

44 TECHNICAL BULLE'l'IN 555, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

TABLE 13.-Carlot and boat unloads o! onions in 66 markets, by 'regions origl:nating shipments, calendar year 1934-Continued

Heglon 01 origin

l\lurket 1111\1 region North North South South IForeign '('oUlI

Atluntic Centrnl Alinntie Centml 1\'cstern IInll Uil' un!oudsknown

----------/._--------------,------CIlTS Curs Cars CUTS (;rm CaTS Cars

Birmingham, AJ~.... .......... .......... 72 .......... 47 00 1!!.5

DulIlI.';, 'l'ex ...... , ' ....................................... 13 IIJQ ~'O3

J':lPnso, 'l'e.x." ...... ' ..... " .....__..._ ......, ............. I 2:1 !H

:Fort Worth :rex....... . _.............. _......_.. 59 7n 1:14

Houston, 'rex. ~,,".~ __ ..... _~.~~ _______.... ~ 1 ____ ... ____ .. 41 2.>;8 :lfHJ Lexington,1\:), . ........ II 18 .......... 4 7 ~O Louisville, Ry.. ..... ....... 7 10:1 ....._.. .. 37 1n 222l\tcnlphis, 'renll ...__ ~. ~ " _ .__ _______ ... 44 ~ ..... ~ ..____ ... 26 126 100 Nus[wtIJe, 'I'eull. 1 (17 ......... 23 4t 132 New Orlellns, LII.. '....... 1 105 .. __....__ 39 171 :\WOklulu')lllU ('ity, Oklu ....._... _.___......__......_ ......__.. 5 78 8:JSnD ,Antonio. 'rex, _~~ .. v_ .. _"", .....___ ..... _..