In South America, onion fields lay from the foothills of the mountain ranges, west, to the Pacific Ocean. The area is dry and arrid, protected from harsh ocean winds from the east, perfect for growing onions.

As perfect as that area might be for onions and other root crops, it is far from perfect for tomatoes, for example. That is why it is essential to make an assessment of fields when working to maximize volumes and profits.

Where to Begin

With RogersAgro, Inc., field assessments begin with soil testing. Our experts will analyze soil scientifically. This includes soil depth, quality, texture, and nutrient and geological composition.

That data is carefully reviewed along with other growing variables, including environmental data, availability of resources, local culture and anything else that can affect potential yield.

This post Consider the land appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

Field Selection

Not all growers have the luxury of selecting the location of their fields, and we can certainly make the most of any locale. But when possible, RogersAgro can help you choose the best fields for your crops.

Ideally, the best scenarios allow for monitoring of a planting area for at least one year, recording hours of sunlight, air and soil temperatures, precipitation and other weather conditions, daily, throughout the seasons.

Other considerations include availability of water and labor, soil condition, financial requirements and scheduling.

Soil Testing

Another key to field prep is soil testing. The full identification of the soil’s composition will help determine the field preparation strategy to yield the highest volume and quality per acre.

Procedures

Field prep procedures will vary depending on the land: its condition, altitude, geological composition, texture, just to name a few of the variables to be considered. Every field should have a procedural profile because every field is unique.

This post Field preparation appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

RogerAgro, Inc. is experienced with irrigation logistics, equipment and techniques in North and South America and has helped growers increase yields and profits all over the world.

If irrigation is your irritation, contact RogersAgro, Inc. at 321-427-2211.

This post Irrigation appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

We also know a degree of expertise is required for planting, even when the task is as simple as placing young plants in a hole.

Modern advances in field preparation make plantings far easier and more efficient than ever before. Another technique to enhance yields is to establish protocols for the protection, handling and planting of transplants. Good communication is always key to production success.

For more information on how RogersAgro, Inc. can help grow your profits, call Barry at 321-427-2211.

This post Planting appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

This is an important stage in onion production that comes after sowing granex seed in greenhouses, treating transplants for disease, and planting gently into the prepared soil with care.

From here the young onions will continue to grow under the watchful eyes of their growers.

Some volume of the planted bulbs will be thinned to allow the bulbs to grow to maximum size.

Later, when the bulbs are more mature, they will be dug and laid in the sun to harden before picking and processing in the packinghouse.

This post New Onions appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

After the onions have hardened, they will be gathered and taken to the packinghouse for grading, sizing, packing and shipping to groceries and large-box stores for sale to the public.

This post Harvest appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

Courtesy of the National Onion Association.

Sweet Onion Sizing

Super Colossal

4-1/2″ and Up Yellow, Red, and White

Colossal

3-3/4″ and Up Yellow, Red, and White

Large/Jumbo

3″ and Up Yellow, Red, and White

Medium

2″ to 3-1/4″ Yellow, Red, and White

Pre-Pack

1-3/4″ to 3″ Yellow and White

Small

1″ to 2-1/4″ Yellow, Red, and White

Boiler

1″ to 1-7/8″ Yellow and White

Creamer

Under 1″ Yellow and White

This post Sizing appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

The USDA says a U.S. #1-Grade consists of onions of similar varietal characteristics which are mature, fairly firm; free from soft rot of wet breakdown, sprouts, bottlenecks, scallions, and cull material. The onions shall also be free from damage caused by seedstems, sunscald, sunburn, roots, moisture, freezing, mold or other disease, insects, mechanical or other means.

For more information on the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s Grades of Onions and Marketing Standards, visit their Onion Grading and Standards Page.

This post Grading appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

But there is far more to packaging than materials. Today, innovations in packaging allow designers to use bright colors, images and graphics to entice impulse purchasing, build brand awareness and promote customer loyalty.

Premium packaging requires premium packing machines, but today growers need not necessarily buy the equipment themselves. Plenty of other options are available.

Equipment is frequently rented by the season. Or, it may be more cost effective to use packers who already have the equipment to pack produce in the packaging of your choice.

This post Packaging appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..

Simply defined, the packinghouse is where food is processed for distribution.

Processing includes receiving produce from the fields, then storing, grading, cleaning, sizing and packing the crops for distribution to another packing facility for specialized packaging or to retail stores for sale to consumers.

Packinghouse facilities are limited by volume, therefore, picking, hardening and packinghouse transports must be scheduled to manage production flows and harvesting schedules together.

This post Packinghouse appeared first on RogersAgro, Inc..