Texas 1015 Onions: Where America’s Fresh Onion Season Begins
Texas onions kick off America’s fresh onion season earlier than anywhere else, and the Texas 1015 sweet onion sits right at the center of that story. More than just another produce item, the 1015 is a recognized piece of Texas history—and a reliable early-season signal for produce buyers, brokers, and carriers alike.
Since 1997, the Texas Legislature has officially recognized the Texas sweet onion as the state vegetable, with the 1015 variety celebrated for its mild flavor, juiciness, and tear-free reputation.
Texas 1015: A True Lone Star Legend
Official state vegetable
The Texas sweet onion earned its place as the state vegetable in 1997, with the 1015 specifically called out for its sweetness and premium eating quality.
Super-sweet, low-pyruvate profile
Texas 1015 onions contain lower levels of pyruvic acid than typical storage onions. That means fewer tears in the kitchen and a noticeably milder bite—one of the reasons they’re prized by chefs and consumers.
Big, juicy bulbs
Medium-to-large bulbs with thick, juicy rings make the 1015 ideal for fresh use. They shine raw in salads and salsas and hold up beautifully in onion rings and blooming onions.
Respected in the culinary world
State resolutions and industry publications alike highlight the 1015’s exceptional flavor. Chefs across the U.S. recognize it as one of the standout sweet onions in the market.
When you bite into a Texas sweet onion, you’re tasting more than produce—you’re tasting official Lone Star state pride.
America’s First Fresh Onions of the Year
Texas is where the U.S. onion season truly begins. Thanks to mild winters and early planting in South Texas, growers can ship retail-ready fresh onions as early as March, weather permitting.
Season timing
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Rio Grande Valley: March through mid-June
-
Winter Garden / Uvalde region: May through July
Northward production shift
Harvest starts in the Valley, then gradually moves north into the Winter Garden and Uvalde areas as the season progresses, extending Texas volume into early summer.
Shorter shelf life
Texas 1015s are fresh onions with higher moisture content, giving them a shelf life of roughly 2–3 months. That’s why true Texas sweet onions largely disappear by late summer, replaced by storage onions from other regions.
For buyers and carriers, this makes March through July prime time for authentic Texas sweet onion freight.
A Small Industry With a Big Freight Footprint
On a map, the Rio Grande Valley looks like farmland. In reality, during onion season, it becomes a powerful freight engine.
Growers and shippers
Historically, South Texas has supported dozens of onion growers and roughly 20–25 USDA-authorized shippers, many handling Texas 1015s alongside other sweet onion varieties.
USDA marketing order
The South Texas Onion marketing order covers about 35 counties, with a typical shipping window from March 1 through mid-July. The South Texas Onion Committee oversees quality standards and promotion during this period.
Cross-border volume
At the same time, large volumes of Mexican onions move through the Valley into U.S. markets. This cross-border flow adds even more pressure on reefer capacity, vented vans, and regional freight rates.
What Texas Onion Season Means for Brokers and Carriers
For anyone working trucks, loads, or produce freight, South Texas onion season is more than trivia—it’s opportunity.
Peak outbound freight window
From March through June in the Rio Grande Valley—and into July out of Winter Garden and Uvalde—onions generate steady outbound demand.
Key shipping hubs
Common origin points include:
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Alamo
-
Edinburg
-
Weslaco
-
Donna
-
Mission
-
Progresso
-
McAllen
Typical equipment
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Reefers (most common)
-
Vented dry vans
-
Limited flatbed movement with proper airflow and protection
For freight brokers and carriers, tracking South Texas Onion Committee listings and major shipper names during this window is one of the simplest ways to plug into early-season produce freight.
A Lone Star Classic on the Plate—and on the Highway
From Rio Grande Valley fields to Uvalde sheds to grocery shelves across the country, the Texas 1015 is more than just a sweet onion. It’s a certified piece of Texas history—and a dependable seasonal marker for the produce supply chain.
The next time you slice into a tear-free Texas sweet onion, remember what’s behind it: a grower, a shipper, a produce broker, and a truck driver who helped that Lone Star legend roll north.
- Tommy Hanka Farms, LLC
Address: 1217 N Alamo Rd, Alamo,
TX 78542
Phone: 956.792.4889 / 956.566.2859
Website: www.tommyhanka.com
Sales: Janie Hanka, Tommy Hanka
Email: sales@tommyhanka.com, janie@tommyhanka.com
- Elpidio
Alejandro
Mailing: 1549 N. Tower Rd, Alamo,
TX 78516
Phone: 956.789.8107
Sales: Elpidio Alejandro
- Rolando
Robles
Mailing: 1453 Nebraska Rd, Alamo,
TX 78516
Phone: 956.229.2416
Sales: Rolando Robles
- Magic
Valley Produce, Ltd
Address: 10524 Mile 14 N Donna Rd,
Donna, TX 78537
Phone: 956.461.6606 (Sales:
956.461.5400)
Fax: 956.464.4460
Sales: Michael “Mickey” Zink
Email: magicvalleyproduceltd@yahoo.com
- Julian
Gomez
Mailing: 10305 E. Monte Cristo Rd,
Edinburg, TX 78542
Phone: 956.510.5108
Sales: Julian Gomez
- Crescent
Fruit & Vegetable, LLC
Address: 18100 N. Rooth Rd,
Edinburg, TX 78541
Phone: 956.383.2737
Sales: Ted Brasch
Email: tedb@crescentfruit.com
- J
& D Produce, Inc. (Little
Bear Produce)
Address: 7310 N. Expressway 281,
Edinburg, TX 78542
Phone: 956.380.0353
Website: www.littlebearproduce.com
Sales: Jeff Brechler, Matt
Bradley, Jimmy Gower
Email: jbrechler@littlebearproduce.com, jgower@littlebearproduce.com, mbradley@littlebearproduce.com
- Nowell
Borders Farms
Address: 601 W. Monte Cristo Rd,
Edinburg, TX 78541
Phone: 956.383.0712 / 956.627.0227
Sales: David DeBerry (Southwest
Onion Growers)
Email: davidd@southwestonion.com
- Val
Verde Vegetable Co.
Address: 2200 Trophy Drive,
McAllen, TX 78504
Phone: 956.994.1310
Website: www.valverdevegetable.com
Sales: Jeff Holton, Israel Canche,
Dorothy Valdez, Cliff Wiebusch
Email: Israel@valverdevegetable.com, jeffh@valverdevegetable.com, cliff@valverdevegetable.com, dorothy@valverdevegetable.com
- Mid-Valley
Agriculture, LLC
Address: 24152 N. Kansas City Rd,
La Feria, TX 78559
Phone: 956.867.8235 / 956.534.0401
Sales: Sam Ruiz, Josh Ruiz
Email: samruizmva@gmail.com, joshruizmva@gmail.com
- South
Tex Organics, LC
Address: 6700 Doffing Rd, Mission,
TX 78574
Phone: 956.585.1040
Website: www.stxorganics.com
Sales: Dennis Holbrook, Russon Holbrook
Email: dennis@stxorganics.com, russon@stxorganics.com
- Plantation
Produce Company (PPC Farms)
Mailing: 805 Trinity St, Mission,
TX 78572
Phone: 956.580.2525
Website: www.ppcfarms.com
Sales: Isaac Kim
Email: Isaac@ppcfarms.com
- Rio
Rico Farms Inc.
Address: 5016 West Hwy 281,
Progresso, TX 78579
Phone: 956.565.2851 / 956.565.1942
Sales: Tommy Whitlock
Email: rioricofarms@gmail.com
- B
& B Farms
Address: 507 Bus 1015 281,
Progresso, TX 78579
Phone: 956.783.1113
Sales: David Seal
- Charles
Wetegrove Co., Inc.
Address: 12374 West F.M. 1762, Raymondville,
TX 78580
Phone: 956.689.3773 / 956.689.3443
Sales: Dan Wetegrove, Chris
Wetegrove
Email: texocrat@aol.com
- F.
Palmer & Sons Produce, Inc.
Address: 900 West Hwy 495, San
Juan, TX 78589
Phone: 956.502.5757
Sales: Gary Palmer, T.J Runyan
Email: gary.palmerproduce@gmail.com, mesillavalleyproduce@gmail.com
- Raul
Trevino, Jr.
Address: 3805 N. Cesar Chavez, San
Juan, TX 78589
Phone: 956.739.7044
Sales: Raul Trevino
- Rio
Fresh, Inc.
Address: 6504 South Stewart Road,
San Juan, TX 78589
Phone: 956.787.0023 / 800.767.9923
Website: www.riofresh.com
Sales: Chris Larson, Mike Morley,
Taylor Schuster, Courtney Moore
Email: chris@riofresh.com, taylor@riofresh.com, mike@riofresh.com, courtney@riofresh.com
- Juan
Cardenas
Address: 7712 San Angelo St,
Weslaco, TX 78596
Phone: 956.998.1425
Sales: Juan Cardenas
- A-W Produce Company
Address: 2300 Vo-Tech Dr., Weslaco,
TX 78599
Phone: 956.447.5551
Website: www.awproduce.com
Sales: Chad Szutz
Email: chad@awproduce.com
- Hartley
Produce LLC.
Address: 4925 Rancho Toluca Rd.,
Mercedes, TX 78570
Phone: 956.514.5359 / 956.463.7481
Sales: Kenneth Hartley, Kevin
Hartley
Email: kevin_hartley91@yahoo.com, kph78596@hotmail.com
- Robert’s
Son Packing
Physical: 2501 Lott Rd, Donna, TX
78537
Phone: 830.255.3240
Sales: Tavo Martinez
- Tex
Mex Sales, LLC
Address: 504 E. Railroad St.,
Weslaco, TX 78596
Phone: 956.969.1003
Website: www.texmexsales.com
Sales: Marvin Davis, Michael Davis
Email: marvin@texmexsales.com, mike@texmexsales.com
- The
Onion House, LLC
Address: 502 S. Pleasantview Dr.,
Weslaco, TX 78599
Phone: 956.973.0552
Website: www.theonionhouse.net
Sales: Don Ed Holmes, Chuck Hill,
Dee Eddy
Email: doned@theonionhouse.net, chill@theonionhouse.net, dee@theonionhouse.net
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