FRESNO, CA - From Cinco de Mayo guacamole recipes to the long-awaited summer grilling season, red onions are finding their place in a host of seasonal recipes, making the category a consistent stop during shoppers’ grocery trips. With demand on the rise, we recently gained exclusive insights from the team at Baloian Farms as the grower prepares for the kick-off of its red onion season.

“Quality is looking excellent,” shared Reiley Johnstone, Account Manager, after a recent visit to the fields. “Growing conditions have been ideal for this season's onion crop to produce a nice sweet red onion. With the temperature rising at a nice rate in California, it has given the onions ideal conditions to grow at the pace they desire for the ultimate shape and flavor. This season, we are going to have a majority of the premium jumbo-sized onion, which seems to be the size most desired by consumers.”

Baloian Farms will have a steady volume from the beginning of May through September and potentially October. The grower does not anticipate any gaps in supply, ensuring consistent quality and volumes to back the onion category for the next five to six months.

“The thing that sets Baloian Farms apart is the variety of onion that we grow,” Reiley continues. “With the proven Brix test, these onions will compete with any other sweet red varieties out there. With the flat shape and the taste of these onions, we are sure people will come back to the stores for more. We also have a great team here that knows what is needed to put up an excellent pack, followed by great service to make things very easy on the purchasing end. We have the capability to pack most pack styles needed by the customer. If there are any opportunities, we will do our best to make that a reality.”

With variety as a key distinguishing factor, Baloian Farms is proud to supply its retail partners with the beloved Italian Flat Sweet Red Onion.

“These red onions are filled with a wonderful sweet flavor that has been tested and proven on a Brix test to show the sweetness level of these. They also have a unique flat look to them, which can really capture the eye of the shoppers walking by the displays in the stores,” Reiley explains. “These are great for summer BBQs, either on the grill or cut fresh for your summertime salads. Fourth of July promotions have always been a big hit and successful for this commodity. They pair well with other big Fourth of July promos such as hamburgers and hot dogs.”

To continue elevating its onion offering and increasing surety of supply for retailers, Baloian Farms is looking to extend its season with the planting of a new variety.

“In years past, we typically concluded the season at the end of September, but this year, if things go as planned, we anticipate the season going further into October,” notes Reiley. “We are continuously trying to expand our season to keep our customers supplied with our label for as long as we can.”

With more opportunities opening up in the red onion category with the help of Baloian Farms, ANUK will continue to relay the latest insights.