THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY 

 ONION INDUSTRY 



By LORIAN P. JEFFERSON 



Tiiree crops of onions are grown in the United States, early, intermediate 

 and late. The chief competitors of Massachusetts in the production of 

 late onions are New York, Ohio and Indiana. The states of Colorado, 

 Idaho and Minnesota are coming into prominence as onion growing states, 

 but as yet they ship comparatively few onions to eastern markets. xVcre- 

 age in Massachusetts decreased from 4,560 acres in 1922 to 3,190 in 1924, 

 but in 1925 rose again to 3,820 acres. Production, despite reduced acre- 

 age remained about the same, practically 1,250,000 bushels; but the 

 crop of 1925 was reported as 1,580,000 bushels. This indicates either an 

 improvement in cultural methods and in care of the crop at harvest time, 

 or an unusually favorable season. 



Owing to recent very unfavorable conditions in California, Ohio and 

 Massachusetts particularly, the total acreage of late onions in the United 

 States was reduced some 14 per cent in 1925. The total of 37,450 acres 

 is the lowest planted for several years. 



Onion growers have recently been disturbed by the quantities of foreign 

 onions arriving on our markets. Side by side with home-grown onions 

 the foreign product usually commands a higher price. Inquiry among 

 dealers, however, indicates that these onions are mostly used for different 

 purposes. Of milder flavor, the foreign onions are chiefly used raw in 

 salads and sandwiches. 



Boston, the chief market for Connecticut Valley onions, receives large 

 quantities from other sources. During the four seasons, 1921-1924, ship- 

 ments from Spain and other foreign countries constituted an average of 

 13 per cent of the receipts in Boston. 



The Connecticut Valley supplied 47 per cent, and New York shipped an 

 average of 15 per cent of the receipts. However, a significant feature is 

 the fact that New York shipments increased from 3 per cent in 1921 to 

 36 per cent in 1924. These arrive in quite regular shipments during the 

 same season as Massachusetts onions. 



Freight rates on onions are still favorable to Massachusetts onions on 

 the Boston market, as compared with Xew York and Mid-Western states. 

 The freight rate on 100 pounds of onions from central points in the Mid- 

 Western onion region to Boston, varies from 55 to 69 cents, while from 

 New York points from which onions are shipped probably 35 to 40 cents 

 per 100 pounds is a fair average rate, onion production being widely dis- 

 tributed throughout the state. The rate from the Connecticut Valley is 

 20 1/2 cents. If, despite the greater freight charges, growers of the Middle 

 West and New York can compete with local onions on the Boston market, 

 it indicates either lower costs of production or onions of superior quality. 



Prices received for the 1924-25 crop were practically the same for New 

 York and Massachusetts onions. 



The accoiTipinying tabulation presents figures for acreage and produc- 

 tion in Massachusetts, and in three states which are her chief competitors 

 in the production of late onions, with totals for the entire late crop in the 

 United States. 



