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.