Thread: Price of White Onions

On 2010-09-27, Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:

> what sustained the price for so long....

Greed.

> what triggered the recent price drop?

Outrage?

My local Safeway pulled that crap. I complained and demanded they
knock off the price gouging and they dropped the price.

nb

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:

> For months and months, the price of white onions at
> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
> said a price drop was imminent when the California
> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
> what sustained the price for so long, and what
> triggered the recent price drop?

Just a guess, but maybe they got greedy, and bought a bunch. Then
nobody bought them, so they got stuck with them. Eventually they
realized that they could drop the price and sell them, or wait until
they got rotten and toss them.

>It must be tough
> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.

That's why farmers like short term futures markets. They let the
speculators take the risk, and they can pay their bills.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
[email protected]

Dan wrote on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:20:21 -0700:

> That's why farmers like short term futures markets. They let
> the speculators take the risk, and they can pay their bills.

The futures markets serve a useful purpose for the farmers who know in
advance what they will get for their produce but the buyers of futures
expect to make money overall (and there's nothing particularly immoral
about that.)

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Mon 27 Sep 2010 12:53:33p, Mark Thorson told us...

> For months and months, the price of white onions at
> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
> said a price drop was imminent when the California
> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
> what sustained the price for so long, and what
> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.
>

I can't say that I've noticed since I don't particularly like white
onions. I prefer yellow or brown-skinned onions which are usually a
decent price.

--

~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~

~~ A mind is a terrible thing to lose. ~~

************************************************** ********

Wayne Boatwright

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:
>For months and months, the price of white onions at
>my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
>$1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
>to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
>said a price drop was imminent when the California
>crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
>ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
>what sustained the price for so long, and what
>triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
>to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.


Well, the California crops are in. I've been getting red and yellow
onions in my farm box from the Central Valley for a few weeks now (reds
before yellows).

I doubt the farmer gets that much more by the time all parties involved
have their hands in.

Charlotte
--

"Mark Thorson" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio

> For months and months, the price of white onions at> my nearby Asian food
> store has been a stratospheric> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had
> finally dropped> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was>
> said a price drop was imminent when the California
> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months> ago. I can live
> without white onions, but I wonder> what sustained the price for so long,
> and what> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough> to be an
> onion farmer, with such >widely varying prices.

I think you'll find the farmer sold his crop while it was still in the
ground or even before he planted it. I can't speak to your circumstances,
but we had onion problems here. Onions that normally get dried out and kept
for the entire year developed blackening and rotting in inner layers and had
to be thrown out. Some kind of disease, I suppose. It meant there was a
shortage of a necessity.

On Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:44:30 +0200, "Giusi" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
> "Mark Thorson" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
>
> > For months and months, the price of white onions at> my nearby Asian food
> > store has been a stratospheric> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had
> > finally dropped> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was>
> > said a price drop was imminent when the California
> > crop kicked in, but that was something like two months> ago. I can live
> > without white onions, but I wonder> what sustained the price for so long,
> > and what> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough> to be an
> > onion farmer, with such >widely varying prices.
>
> I think you'll find the farmer sold his crop while it was still in the
> ground or even before he planted it. I can't speak to your circumstances,
> but we had onion problems here. Onions that normally get dried out and kept
> for the entire year developed blackening and rotting in inner layers and had
> to be thrown out. Some kind of disease, I suppose. It meant there was a
> shortage of a necessity.
>

That blackening of layers thing happens over here too, potatoes have
black spots inside that are not indicated anywhere on the outside and
I had to pick through a lot of heads of garlic on Sunday to find one
that didn't have blackening around the roots. What's happening to our
food? Is this part of the price we pay for fewer chemicals or is it
more serious than that?

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
> I can't say that I've noticed since I don't particularly like white
> onions. I prefer yellow or brown-skinned onions which are usually a
> decent price.

A couple weeks ago the price of yellow onion
finally broke. I can get them for $0.25/lb.
I think you must be an idiot to plant yellow
onions, while all those white onion farmers
are driving around in Mercedes and BMW's.

On 9/27/2010 2:53 PM, Mark Thorson wrote:
> For months and months, the price of white onions at
> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
> said a price drop was imminent when the California
> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
> what sustained the price for so long, and what
> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.

I noticed at a market where green onions are usually around
US$0.50/bunch, the price had gone up to US$2 for three bunches. Doesn't
bode well. I did not buy a bunch as I was inclined to do. Sorry, I
forgot to notice the prices for white & yellow onions - my bad.

Sky

--

Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice!!

On Sep 28, 2:17*pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:
> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
> > I can't say that I've noticed since I don't particularly like white
> > onions. *I prefer yellow or brown-skinned onions which are usually a
> > decent price.
>
> A couple weeks ago the price of yellow onion
> finally broke. *I can get them for $0.25/lb.
> I think you must be an idiot to plant yellow
> onions, while all those white onion farmers
> are driving around in Mercedes and BMW's.

Next time you pull up next to someone in a Mercedes or BMW with their
window down, say, "Hey, I bet you grow white onions, don't you?"

--Bryan

Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:
> For months and months, the price of white onions at
> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
> said a price drop was imminent when the California
> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
> what sustained the price for so long, and what
> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.

Around here, every kind of onion went way up. I was used to sweet yellows
going on sale for .69. Then they went up by a dollar and so did the reds and
whites. They are just now starting to come down. We'll see how far. I think
somebody must be running a game to fix these prices.

MartyB

--�
-

On 9/29/2010 12:46 AM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> Mark Thorson<[email protected]> wrote:
>> For months and months, the price of white onions at
>> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
>> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
>> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
>> said a price drop was imminent when the California
>> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
>> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
>> what sustained the price for so long, and what
>> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
>> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.
>
> Around here, every kind of onion went way up. I was used to sweet yellows
> going on sale for .69. Then they went up by a dollar and so did the reds and
> whites. They are just now starting to come down. We'll see how far. I think
> somebody must be running a game to fix these prices.
>
> MartyB
>
> --�
> -
>
>
Onions don't come from a factory. This years first crop was a dud but
this years second crop was successful and is now coming to market. That
is why the prices just dropped and the quality is noticeably better.

George <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 9/29/2010 12:46 AM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>> Mark Thorson<[email protected]> wrote:
>>> For months and months, the price of white onions at
>>> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
>>> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
>>> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
>>> said a price drop was imminent when the California
>>> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
>>> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
>>> what sustained the price for so long, and what
>>> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
>>> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.
>>
>> Around here, every kind of onion went way up. I was used to sweet
>> yellows going on sale for .69. Then they went up by a dollar and so
>> did the reds and whites. They are just now starting to come down.
>> We'll see how far. I think somebody must be running a game to fix
>> these prices. MartyB
>>
>> --
>> -
>>
>>
> Onions don't come from a factory.

Really? I thought they came from the 24 hour Onion Mart.

>This years first crop was a dud but
> this years second crop was successful and is now coming to market.
> That is why the prices just dropped and the quality is noticeably
> better.

That doesn't explain why all the different varieties went up at exactly the
same time, or why the same thing did not happen in other localities as
described by posters in this thread. They describe one variety going way up.
That's why I think they were fixing all the onion prices to match, at least
in this area.

MartyB

On Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:03:32 -0500, "Nunya Bidnits"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>George <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 9/29/2010 12:46 AM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>>> Mark Thorson<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> For months and months, the price of white onions at
>>>> my nearby Asian food store has been a stratospheric
>>>> $1.99/lb, but today I noticed it had finally dropped
>>>> to $0.99/lb. The last time this was discussed, it was
>>>> said a price drop was imminent when the California
>>>> crop kicked in, but that was something like two months
>>>> ago. I can live without white onions, but I wonder
>>>> what sustained the price for so long, and what
>>>> triggered the recent price drop? It must be tough
>>>> to be an onion farmer, with such widely varying prices.
>>>
>>> Around here, every kind of onion went way up. I was used to sweet
>>> yellows going on sale for .69. Then they went up by a dollar and so
>>> did the reds and whites. They are just now starting to come down.
>>> We'll see how far. I think somebody must be running a game to fix
>>> these prices. MartyB
>>>
>>> --
>>> -
>>>
>>>
>> Onions don't come from a factory.
>
>Really? I thought they came from the 24 hour Onion Mart.
>
>>This years first crop was a dud but
>> this years second crop was successful and is now coming to market.
>> That is why the prices just dropped and the quality is noticeably
>> better.
>
>That doesn't explain why all the different varieties went up at exactly the
>same time, or why the same thing did not happen in other localities as
>described by posters in this thread. They describe one variety going way up.
>That's why I think they were fixing all the onion prices to match, at least
>in this area.
>
>MartyB
>

The quality has also dropped, if the bags of onions at safeway and
costco are any indication.

On Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:03:32 -0500, "Nunya Bidnits"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
> George <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >This years first crop was a dud but
> > this years second crop was successful and is now coming to market.
> > That is why the prices just dropped and the quality is noticeably
> > better.
>
> That doesn't explain why all the different varieties went up at exactly the
> same time, or why the same thing did not happen in other localities as
> described by posters in this thread. They describe one variety going way up.
> That's why I think they were fixing all the onion prices to match, at least
> in this area.
>

It's basic supply and demand... the same reason why gas prices go up
every summer.

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

"Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidnits@eternal-

> That doesn't explain why all the different varieties went up at exactly
> the same time, or why the same thing did not happen in other localities as
> described by posters in this thread.

Different ones grow different places. People will buy red if they wanted
white but there are none or they're expensive. They don't go buy peanuts
instead.

sf <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:03:32 -0500, "Nunya Bidnits"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> George <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> This years first crop was a dud but
>>> this years second crop was successful and is now coming to market.
>>> That is why the prices just dropped and the quality is noticeably
>>> better.
>>
>> That doesn't explain why all the different varieties went up at
>> exactly the same time, or why the same thing did not happen in other
>> localities as described by posters in this thread. They describe one
>> variety going way up. That's why I think they were fixing all the
>> onion prices to match, at least in this area.
>>
>
> It's basic supply and demand... the same reason why gas prices go up
> every summer.

Not in this case. This was an extreme spike, unusual even for the season. At
least where I live.

On 9/28/2010 5:55 PM, Sky wrote:
>
> I noticed at a market where green onions are usually around
> US$0.50/bunch, the price had gone up to US$2 for three bunches.
> Doesn't bode well. I did not buy a bunch as I was inclined to do.
> Sorry, I forgot to notice the prices for white & yellow onions - my bad.
>
> Sky
>

Here, jumbo white onions are 68¢, 99¢, or $1.39 cents per pound,
depending on where you shop.

Becca