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Onions a growth industry for New Mexico
United States
Monday 09 July 2007
The development of a successful onion industry in New Mexico isn't a pipe dream. Interest, a sense of vision and a "can-do" attitude have turned the vegetable into a viable part of the state's annual agricultural economy.
During peak harvest periods in June and July, New Mexico supplies as much as half of all dry onions consumed in the United States during those summer months.
In 2006, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that the state had planted 6.000 acres in summer non-storage onions, with a total of 5.500 of these acres harvested. According to NASS, each acre in 2006 produced 480 hundredweight of onions for actual production of 2.6 million hundredweight. The value of production in 2006 was US$45.9 million.
During 2005, NASS reported the value of onions production at US$53.6 million. During that year, 6.400 acres were actually harvested with 530 hundredweight of onions produced. This translated to actual production of 3.4 million hundredweight during 2005.
NASS has indicated that 6.500 acres were planted with summer non-storage onions in 2007, a figure that is comparable to 2005 acreage. For the week ending June 10, NASS reported that 60 percent of the onions crop had been harvested.
Onions production is concentrated in the Hatch and Mesilla valleys, with some production occurring in the Pecos Valley, the Clovis area and the Navajo Irrigation Project in the northwest portion of New Mexico. With the exception of the northwest growing area, all onions are for non-storage.
During peak harvest periods in June and July, New Mexico supplies as much as half of all dry onions consumed in the United States during those summer months.
In 2006, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that the state had planted 6.000 acres in summer non-storage onions, with a total of 5.500 of these acres harvested. According to NASS, each acre in 2006 produced 480 hundredweight of onions for actual production of 2.6 million hundredweight. The value of production in 2006 was US$45.9 million.
During 2005, NASS reported the value of onions production at US$53.6 million. During that year, 6.400 acres were actually harvested with 530 hundredweight of onions produced. This translated to actual production of 3.4 million hundredweight during 2005.
NASS has indicated that 6.500 acres were planted with summer non-storage onions in 2007, a figure that is comparable to 2005 acreage. For the week ending June 10, NASS reported that 60 percent of the onions crop had been harvested.
Onions production is concentrated in the Hatch and Mesilla valleys, with some production occurring in the Pecos Valley, the Clovis area and the Navajo Irrigation Project in the northwest portion of New Mexico. With the exception of the northwest growing area, all onions are for non-storage.
