BASIC RULES FOR BUYING & SELLING TEXAS GROWN ONIONS
All commercial dry onions grown in Texas are produced under federal marketing orders. That means there are strict requirements for buying and selling these commodities that you must know to avoid being in violation of these rules. Failure to comply with these rules can result in fines and, in some cases, revocation of licenses. Onions imported from Mexico or any other country come under the same rules. Following are a brief excerpt of the most common situations for compliance:
- Dry onions produced in the 35 counties overseen by the marketing order must be bought and sold in accordance with Federal Marketing Order #959. The commercial production area in Texas is made up of 35 counties: Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Goliad, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Jim Hogg, Karnes, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Willacy, Wilson, Zapata & Zavala.
- Onions shipped from March 1 through July 15 from these 35 counties must be inspected and approved by the Texas Cooperative Inspection Program (956-787-4091), regardless of their being sold inside or outside of the production area.
- From March 10 through June 4, imported onions must comply with minimum grade, size, quality and maturity requirements as imposed under the marketing order. The same rules of sale apply to imported and domestic onions.
Uninspected onions may NOT be sold, inside or outside of the production area, with the following exceptions:
- No more than 110 pounds of uninspected onions may be transported by individuals for “personal consumption”
- Under pre-approved & fully document circumstances, uninspected onions intended for charity and/or relief that do not meet grade and quality requirements may be shipped with prior approval from the South Texas Onion Committee. Uninspected cull onions may only be shipped under a special “certificate of privilege” provided they are intended only for canning, freezing, or dehydrating, AND provided the intended recipient has been pre-approved by the committee.
- Cull onions may NOT be shipped to fresh cut processors under any circumstances.
- Cull onions not sold to charity or approved processors must be mechanically mutilated at the packing shed.
- NOTE: Many people refer to cull onions as “number 2s” or “Grade 2,” however there is no reference beyond “US #1” grade in the marketing order, except as culls.
STOC Rules & Regulations (Download)
These rules are excerpts from the full language of the marketing order and are designed for regulatory guidance in complying with the order.
Federal Marketing Order #959 (Download)
This is the full and official language as filed and approved by the U.S. government on January 25, 1961 for Part #959 Onions Grown In South Texas