Onion World: The Voice of the Onion Industry

NOA Tour

See the Agriculture, History and Culture of Holland and Spain

Onion World
September/October 2005

Experience the magic of Holland and the nostalgia of Spain during a two-week Agricultural tour with the National Onion Association (NOA). The tour begins Jan. 15, 2006, and runs through Jan. 29. For the third time, Allied World Travel, the NOA and international NOA members are proud to offer one of the most enjoyable, educational agriculture-related experiences abroad.

Ag tours begin in Holland at the Flower Auction but focus on the onion industry. Included are visits to Bejo Seeds and DeGroot & Slot, giants in the Dutch onion seed business. ERC Machinery, Waterman B.V. Onions, Nunhems, NNZ and Lammers & Van Cleef will all host the group.

Holland is the largest onion exporter in the world. Throughout the week, participants will have an opportunity to see and experience many highly mechanized and sophisticated onion-handling operations.

While in Amsterdam, the group will also see numerous historical landmarks, including the Royal Palace. During a private boat tour through the Amsterdam canals, view thousands of bridges and much of the country’s magnificent architecture. A leisure day for sightseeing offers the opportunity to visit the famous Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House. If shopping is on your list, Albert Cuypmarkt, the city’s largest day market, is also a must see. The country’s many diamond factories are also popular tourist stops.

A short flight will take the group from Holland to Valencia, Spain. Valencia is home for some of the country’s best-known agriculture, including Spanish onions. Guests will visit the Aparici Brothers’ onion packaging facility (one of the largest of its kind in Europe) and the new packaging facilities of Cebollas Tara. In Albacete, the group will see onion storage facilities, land preparation and growing systems. The area around Cordoba has become famous for short-day and intermediate onions. The tour includes a visit to several large onion fields and a stop at Consuay farm, the main onion producer in the area.

From there, the group will take a high-speed bullet train to Seville for historical tours and a taste of Andalusian culture. A second high-speed train will take the group to Madrid. Enjoy the final two days of the tour with an extensive guided tour of downtown Madrid. Plenty of time has been set aside to sightsee, shop and experience the history and culture of the city. A farewell gala, complete with an authentic flamenco show, is planned for the final evening.

Air transportation to Amsterdam, returning from Madrid and all surface transportation while in Holland and Spain are included. First-class hotel accommodations for 13 nights and a majority of the meals are also included.

An optional pre-tour to Paris is available. Those who wish can spend four days and three nights of sightseeing in France.

For a detailed itinerary and reservation information packet or additional information, contact Allied World Travel at 1-800-323-8268 or Wayne Mininger at the NOA at (970) 353-5895.

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