Downy Mildew Strikes Vidalia Onions, Cuts Yields

The Packer Apr 04, 2012

Vidalia onion grower-shippers worry downy mildew disease could cut early volume and harm up to one-fifth of the crop’s yields.

Grower-shippers say the airborne fungal disease, which damages onion tops by preventing bulbs from sizing properly, is affecting all fields.

“In early March, we were very confident and felt very good that we had one of the best crops that we had in a long time, from a yield standpoint,” John Shuman, president of Shuman Produce Inc., Reidsville, Ga., said in early April.

“Now, downy mildew is working its way through the industry and everyone’s affected. For sure, Georgia will certainly produce a crop,” Shuman said. “It will delay production for some people and cut yields on some early varieties. It won’t devastate the crop but will cut yields.”

Richard Pazderski, director of sales for Bland Farms LLC, Glennville, Ga., estimates the disease could cut yields by up to 20%. He said the disease is leveling off, though.

“We don’t want to create a lot of panic in the industry,” Pazderski said April 3. “We will see some reduced yield and some smaller sizings. We will still see the same presence from the Vidalia industry as we always do. Overall, we’re still looking at a marketable crop. It just won’t be an abundant crop. There will still be enough for promotions and we will still have good volume.”

Shuman reported increasing sweet onion prices. He said 40-pound cartons of Texas grano sweet onions increased from $10 in late March to a $12-14 in early April, likely caused by unfavorable Texas weather and word of a smaller Vidalia crop.

Shuman said he expects the Vidalia deal to open at $16 for 40-pound cartons.

In mid-April last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the deal opening with 40-pound cartons of U.S. No. 1 Vidalias selling for $12-14 for jumbos.

Pazderski said Bland plans to start its harvesting April 5, a week earlier than the April 12 official season start date a growers committee set March 12.

Shipments sent before the official date require inspection stickers of U.S. No. 1 from the USDA’s Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Service.

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