Integrity as a Way of Life - Columbia Publishing & Design

Bauman, from page 7
Summer onions from California also go
through the same rigors. Dan points out that
none of Onions Direct’s California onions
are purchased through brokers. All come
from third-party-audited farms growing
the crop under contract with Onions Direct
LLC.
The Baumans occasionally will ship
some of their crop to overseas customers
in Japan and other Far East countries. The
sizing requirements are different. The freshcut
and processing industry remains their
prime market. Onion rings, for example,
require jumbo- or colossal-sized, singlecentered
onion while most Oriental customers
prefer a smaller-sized bulb.
‘Quality Is Everything’
“In the fresh-cut onion market, quality
is everything,” Larry stresses. “When we
look at a variety, the No. 1 consideration
is single-centeredness and how long it will
store. While we grow a number of varieties,
Vaquero remains the favorite. We have
been growing that variety since 1993. From
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an onion ring standpoint, it has a proven
record of producing consistent single-centered
onions.”
The Baumans plant a number of different
varieties, the bulk being from Nunhems,
but also from Bejo, Seminis and other
sources. Most are full Spanish-type onions.
While the bulk of their crop are yellow
varieties, such as Vaquero, more red onions
are being grown today than in the past. This
is because of the increasing demand in the
foodservice industry for “red” types that
add color to various menus. White varieties,
which are more difficult to
grow on their soil types, are left
for others.
“Years ago, we made the decision
that we couldn’t be all things
to all people,” Kerrick acknowledges.
“To do so would make it
more difficult to compete with
the larger farms. We focus on
our niche and feel we are doing
a good job meeting the needs of
our customers.”
Both Larry and Kerrick are active in
commodity organizations. Larry is presently
a director of the National Onion Association
and attends virtually all of its meetings;
Kerrick is a past president of the Northwest
Vegetable Association, the focal organization
for onion growers in Washington State.
Kerrick acknowledges how critical each
aspect of their business is, from irrigation
management, to storage, packing and
marketing. He enjoys working alongside
a committed group of employees who do
their jobs well.
Wayne Mininger, Kerrick and Larry Bauman and Kevin
Kudsk of L&L Ag Production LLC.
Phone: Toll-free 877-999-MACX (6229)
E-mail: info@decadeproducts.com
www.decadeproducts.com