BOSKOVICH, PHIL , JOE, GEORGE King of Onions

It’s tough to grow green onions in a downpour, but impossible when the acreage turns into cityscape. But for now, Boskovich Farms holds title as the nations largest green onion grower. The family, now supervising 1000 leased acres from headquarters alongside the Valencia Industrial Center, estimates that increasing urbanization could yank its final crop within 5 to 10 years. “We definitely want to stay in this business,” vows Joe Boskovich, speaking as the family’s third generation. Their resources were tested this winter; the monsoon-like rains bought “tremendous losses” when many of the radishes and green onions, which are grown and packed locally year-round wither rotted or lost their topsoil. The rains interrupted this area’s salubrious reputation as an ideal cradle for both products. Light frost allows for a winter crop, while the summer’s warm days and moderate nights add to the bounty. The constant harvest finally has resumed its routine; the three sons and three grandsons of the late Steve Boskovich now oversee an expected annual yield of two million boxes of green onions and half that many radishes. A box of either product contains 48 bunches. They supply 13 major supermarket chains in the state, using a family-owned fleet of six giant trucks. The daily order placed by Alpha Beta stores, for 1000 cartons of onions and 500 of radishes, represents one truckload. Joe Boskovich, sales manager, is one of the founder’s three grandsons in the business. The trio- completed by Phil Jr. and George Jr.- hasn’t yet cracked the age barrier of 30. Joe and Phil’s father, Phil Senior, is president of the corporation; his brothers, George and John are vice presidents. Their enterprise goes back to 1915, when Steve Boskovich, a young Croatian immigrant from Hercegovina planted his first crops in what was to become North Hollywood. The operation remained small in its first location, growing its onions and radishes for the Los Angeles market. Boskovich, who died two years ago at 88, moved his business to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1955. Volume began blossoming in the mid-1960s. The “Onion King” brand now sells well on the East Coast and in Canada.

The “Radish King” companion also is distributed form a loading dock and warehouse in Salinas, where the family is competing with Northern California growers. An increase in volume was required by the decrease in per-unit profit, Joe said. The retail price of a bunch of radishes or green onions has increased about a penny for each of the past five years, far more slowly that the prices of lettuce or tomatoes. The green onions and red radishes, Boskovich said, are specialty items which lack the constant demand of lettuce, and therefore keep a deflated price. But they provide steady employment for some 500 people on Boskovich Farms, which obtains yearly leases from Newhall Land and Farming Company. The area’s other prominant tenant farmers, Tapia Brothers corn and BunnyLuv carrots, rotate their fields with Boskovich. The farm constantly is looking for new crops, Joe said.  Parsley, leeks and turnips will be grown as a winter addition this year. New Boskovich employees often decide whether to take packing shed of field work.  The packing shed workers, who are paid hourly, wash the onions and radishes, and pack them in corrugated boxes with ice.