Optimizing Onion Harvest: How Owyhee Produce Utilizes HarvestEye for Enhanced Size Profiling

Industry

Onion

Challenge

Owyhee Produce saw a big opportunity in accurately understanding the size profile of their onions. While they were able to weigh each truckload at harvest, the variability in onion sizes wasn't truly understood until passing through their pack house.

Results

By integrating HarvestEye into their bulk storage conveyor, Owyhee Produce gained significant insights into the size distribution of their onions earlier than ever before. This has allowed them to enhance inventory management, and improve their sales strategies. The data provided by HarvestEye has been accurate within 5% of actual sizing, greatly enhancing their operational efficiency.

Key Products / Crop

HarvestEye 2.0, Onion

OwyheeProduce.com

1,500

Acres of Onions Grown Annually

95%

Accuracy of HarvestEye Sizing Data

'It has been great so far. We have enjoyed using it and testing it. It has been a game changer in how much we've been able to plan around the sizes of it.'

Devin Rindlisbacher

Production Manager, Owyhee Produce

'Great customer service. Great help, and we have seen that they have been accurate till about 5% of what the sizing actually is.'

Devin Rindlisbacher

Production Manager, Owyhee Produce

Owyhee Produce

Owyhee Produce, based in Nyssa, Oregon, is a family-owned agricultural enterprise specializing in the cultivation, packaging, and distribution of onions and asparagus. Established in 1954 by Owen G. Froerer, the company has expanded over three generations, integrating traditional farming expertise with modern agricultural practices. Operating under the Froerer Farms umbrella, Owyhee Produce emphasizes integrity and quality, ensuring that their produce is delivered directly from their family to consumers.

The Challenge

Owyhee Produce, operating over 6,000 acres with 1,500 acres dedicated to onion farming, faced challenges in accurately understanding the size profile of their onion harvests prior to grading at their packhouse. The variability in onion sizes made it difficult to plan and optimize sales strategies effectively. Despite weighing each truckload, the lack of detailed size distribution data hindered their ability to manage inventory and meet market demands precisely.

The Solution

Upon integrating HarvestEye into their bulk storage conveyor, Owyhee Produce was able to gather detailed insights into the size distribution of their onion harvests. 'It has been great so far. We have enjoyed using it and testing it. It has been a game changer in how much we've been able to plan around the sizes of it,' said Devin Rindlisbacher, Operations Manager at Owyhee Produce. The decision to adopt HarvestEye was driven by its accuracy and the excellent customer service provided, as Devin further noted, 'Great customer service. Great help, and we have seen that they have been accurate till about 5% of what the sizing actually is.'

The Results

Post-implementation of HarvestEye, the size profiling data insights are enabling Owyhee to have more understanding and is supporting them to optimize planting spacing, enhance inventory management, and fine-tune their sales strategies. This technological advancement not only addressed their initial challenges but also positioned them to meet market demands more effectively, ensuring better planning and resource allocation.