08/11/05 Onion harvest about to get underway

Last year Idaho onion growers had such a bumper crop they ran out of space to store their bounty. This year, as the harvest begins things are different. JONES "A normal yield is expected." That's Sherise Jones, marketing director for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee. JONES "The acres planted are a bit down and they do expect that they'll have the great size they've had in past years and the market will be up." The committee which is made up of growers, packers and shippers started a campaign recently to promote their product. They produce 35 percent of all the onions consumed in America between August and March. JONES "Our onions are inspected by federal and state inspectors to assure very strict specifications for quality so when their eating an Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion they can expect and receive a very quality onion." Idaho ranks third in the nation in onion production but on both sides of the Snake River nearly 21 thousand acres on average are devoted to onions, resulting in 22 thousand truck loads when the harvest is complete. Want to learn more. Check out this website www.bigonions.com. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott