Onions

Acres harvested in Washington:

non-storage onions: 800 acres in 1999

storage onions: 18,000 in 1999

Number of growers: 165 in 1997

Percent of U.S. production: 12.4% in 1999

Rank in U.S. production: #3 in 1999

Value per harvested acre:

non-storage onions: $8,784 in 1999

storage onions: $2,487 in 1999

Onions were the third highest-ranking vegetable crop (after potatoes and sweet corn) in Washington in 1999, based on value of production. The crop contributed $51.8 million dollars to Washington’s farm income in 1999, down 39% from the 1998 value of $84.3 million. Washington storage onion growers have almost tripled their acreage during the past ten years from 6,800 to 18,000 acres harvested for the 1999 crop. Non-storage onion harvested acreage has remained stable during the past decade ranging from 700 to 1,200 harvested acres. Growers harvested 800 acres during the 1999 season. Non-storage onion prices have ranged from $12.60 to $26.00 per cwt. (hundredweight) during the past ten years. This is much higher than the storage onion crop because the "Walla Walla Sweet" is a unique specialty onion with low pungency favored for fresh consumption.

Information and recipes are available from the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Committee on the web at http://home.bmi.net/onions/.

Washington State University publications on onions can be found at