MISSION – Rio Grande Valley produce farmers say rain is usually a good thing unless it’s in abundance.   

The Texas International Produce Association said frequent rains are preventing onion farmers from planting. The delay could lead them to miss their target date for harvest.  

Dante Galeazzi with TIPA said muddy fields also keep farmers from planting with their tractors.

“If they’re not able to plant their onions in time, then what happens is they miss the window of opportunity,” he said. “Because if they plant too late, then the onion won’t be ready at the time it should be, it starts running into summer, the plant gets too hot, never reaches maturity, they end up not having a product that’s good for commercial sale or retail sale.”

Galeazzi said the rain is also disrupting grapefruit harvests. He said harvesting in the rain could lead to bruising the produce.