Walla Walla Sweet Onions Pt 1

Walla Walla Sweet Onions Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Onion fans have big grins on their faces right now because they know harvest is underway for those Walla Walla Sweets.

Michael Locati, grower and Chair of the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, says there was a little delay to topping, but the onions are looking very nice …

LOCATI … “You know, we probably didn’t need two inches of rain in June, but no they’re looking good. You know, we probably would have started a little earlier, but we’re right on a normal start time and so we’re hacking away at it.”

And thanks to the cooler weather, Locati says they don’t have to start their days quite as early as other years …

LOCATI … “We’re still starting around 3:30am, but they’re getting out of there about 11:00am. Yeah, we’re not doing the 2 o’clock, 1 o’clock stuff this year, which is nice.”

And when it comes to delicious, this year is no different …

LOCATI … “Yeah, yeah, no, tasting really good. Yeah, quality seems to be good. We’re able to store anything that wouldn’t be with the packing shed and stuff. So, yeah, the yields look good. So, there’s lots of onions out there.”

And, Locati says things are moving along nicely …

LOCATI … “I think we started on the 15th or 16th, one of those days. We’re probably, oh, a solid third of the way through. You know, we’re going to go the middle of August or better, but yeah, we got a good jump on it.”

Tune in tomorrow for more on this year’s Walla Walla Sweet Onion harvest.

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