Onion Prices High, but Bulbs a Bit Small

ONTARIO, Ore. (AP) — Onions are fetching nearly twice as much as they did last year, but size and yield are expected to be down thanks to a severe heat wave during the growing season.

The Capital Press reports that a 50-pound bag of jumbo onions is going for around $8 right now, compared to about $4.50 at this time last year. Snake River Produce manager Kay Riley of Nyssa says that's a very good price. He says this year's crop seems average, with good quality but some bulbs turning out a bit smaller than normal.

Southwestern Idaho and Malheur County in Oregon make up one of the largest onion-growing regions in the country. The U.S. Department of estimates that 8,400 acres of onions harvested this year on the Idaho side and 9,000 in Oregon.