The onion, also called common onion or bulb onion is a vegetable widely consumed around the world. They are usually served cooked, as part of a prepared dish or as a main ingredient in their own right. They can also be eaten raw, in salads, on a sandwich or in burgers for example. In the United-States, onions stand as the third most-consumed vegetable, after potatoes and tomatoes. With 9.4 pounds of onions per person in 2019, onions are almost exclusively eaten fresh, and their consumption exceeds that of carrots and head lettuce.

 

This market research encompasses the following types of onions harvested and consumed in California: 

• Onions, spring
• Onions, summer
• Onions, processing.
• Onions

 

This market research includes major growers, packers, processors, organic producers, and food retailersin California.

 

California makes up a third of the U.S exports of onions, the main recipients being Canada and Mexico. Within the state, Fresno, Kern and Imperial are the three leading counties in terms of production. Together, they account for more than 80% of onions harvested in California.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected the onion industry in California. Prices and movements fall sharply at the beginning of the from March to May 2021. For example, the price ($/ton) of red onion was down 48% YoY in May 2020. With the gradual reopening of the economy and food services, the industry slowly recovered. 

 

Latest trends in the California onion market include the rise of specialty varieties and the increasing appeal of organic onions, organic produce sales registered double-digit growth in 2020.