MARKETING ONIONS 
57 
The onions are dug or pulled, dried, screened, cleaned, sorted, and 
usually graded. The early crop is shipped in 1 -bushel crates soon 
after harvesting. The late crop is shipped in 100-pound sacks after 
a longer or shorter period of curing and storage. 
Most growers sell to local buyers who distribute through city 
dealers. From one-fourth to one-half of the main commercial crop 
goes into farm or commercial storage. Many growers are financed 
by loans, credit, or advance payment by dealers. 
The early shipping season, April to June, is at its height in May. 
The late season movement, beginning in July, reaches its height in 
September and October, and continues from storage until June. 
Usually more than half the main crop is shipped before December. 
A dozen great city market districts take half of the car-lot shipments. 
High prices tend to alternate with low prices in successive seasons, 
corresponding with like variation in production. Quality of the 
crop, the probable imports, and the general business outlook all have 
a part in a forecast of the market. Crop and market information is 
supplied free in many forms by the Department of Agriculture. 
Table 1. — Features of the commercial early crop in leading States 
State 
Leading varieties 
Aver- 
age 
yield 
per 
acre 
Pro- 
duc- 
tion, 
5-year 
aver- 
age 
Ship- 
ments, 
5-year 
aver- 
age 
Leading 
counties 
Leading ship- 
ping stations 
Active harvest 
season 
1,000 
Bushels 
Bushels 
Cars 
Texas 
Yellow Bermuda, 
Crystal Wax. 
218 
2, 4fi9 
4, 075 
Dimmitt.. 
Webb 
Zavalla 
La Salle. . . 
Asherton, Big 
Wells. 
C a r r i z o 
Springs. 
Laredo 
Crystal City .. 
Cotulla 
Mar. 20-June 10. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
California... 
Yellow Bermuda, 
Crystal Wax 
302 
631 
805 
Riverside.. 
Imperial... 
Coachella 
Thermal 
Indio 
Brawley 
Imperial. 
Apr. 15-June 20. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
State 
Growers' usual 
basis of sale 
Usual buyers 
Dealers' 
usual basis 
of sale 
How put up 
Leading markets 
Shipping 
season 
Texas 
California . 
Cash per crate 
or as per con- 
tract. 
Cash per crate 
at shipping 
station or as 
per contract. 
Local dealers, 
agents, and 
contract 
buyers. 
do 
F.o.b. usual 
terms and 
cash track. 
do.. 
Standard 1- 
bushel crate. 
do 
New York, Bos- 
ton, Chicago. 
Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh, St. 
Louis. 
Chicago, New 
York, Boston. 
Mar. 15- 
Junel5. 
Apr. 20- 
June 30. 
