New crop onions across the U.S. and Canada are described as strong, with growers putting a good harvest into storage, though acreage is down from last year's oversupplied season. Demand is holding up well — onions offer clear value relative to other produce, and more consumers cooking at home is boosting consumption. Current pricing is described as excellent and providing adequate grower returns after last year's disastrous lows.
The complicating factor is transportation. Driver shortages and high fuel prices are making onion movement difficult, and with oil now above $100 a barrel, those fuel costs are heading higher. In the East, plentiful rains during the growing season raise questions about late-harvest quality that won't be answered until those onions are pulled and stored.
For buyers managing onion supply through winter and spring, the combination of adequate storage volumes and transportation friction is worth monitoring. Any spike in freight costs or further tightening of truck availability could create localized shortages even when overall supply is sufficient.