California Sweet Onions 1015
Estimated Inventory, 50 lbs : 0
Description/Taste
California Sweet onions are medium to large in size and have a flattened, globular shape. The bulb is wrapped in a fine, papery, gold to brown parchment-like skin that is thin, flaky, and dry. Underneath the skin, the pale yellow to white flesh is translucent, juicy, and crisp with many layers of thin rings. California Sweet onions contain low levels of sulfur which typically give onions their pungent taste, and are crunchy, tender, mild, and sweet.
Seasons/Availability
California Sweet onions are available in the spring through summer.
Current Facts
California Sweet onions, botanically classified as Allium cepa, are varieties of onions that lack large amounts of sulfur resulting in a sweet taste and are members of the Amaryllidaceae family. Classified as short-day onions, California Sweet onions develop in the cool weather of fall and winter and only require 11-12 hours of sunlight. They are then harvested in the spring and summer and are marketed as fresh onions. California Sweet onions are grown in the Imperial Valley in California and earned their name from their geographical growing region. Also known as Sweet Imperial, California Sweet onions are favored for their tender texture and sweet flavor and are used in a variety of both raw and cooked applications.
Nutritional Value
California Sweet onions contain fiber, vitamin C, iron, and calcium.
Applications
California Sweet onions are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as frying, boiling, and grilling. When used fresh, the bulbs can be sliced and layered on wraps and sandwiches, minced into salsa, chopped and tossed into salads, or blended into dressings and dips. They can also be caramelized and served with roasted meats, on toast, or on pizza, fried into an onion ring, mixed into stews and soups, or grilled and served on burgers. California Sweet onions pair well with basil, mint, cilantro, rosemary, fennel, garlic, chives, tomatoes, citrus, avocado, apples, ginger, meats such as bacon, poultry, and beef, shrimp, chickpeas, couscous, goat cheese, pesto, cinnamon, and cloves. The bulbs will keep 1-2 weeks when stored in a paper bag in a cool and dark place.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
California’s Imperial Valley is one of the largest producers of sweet onions in the United States. Located just over two hundred miles southeast of Los Angeles, the mild California weather is the ideal growing condition for the sweet onion, and there has been a large marketing push by onion growers to advertise the locally grown varieties. Sweet onions are largely named after their geographic growing region and farmers are using their location in the Imperial Valley to sell to the western United States. Marketed as locally grown, California Sweet onions such as the Sweet Imperial are becoming increasingly popular at farmers markets in California and Nevada.
Geography/History
California Sweet onions are native to the United States and are believed to have been developed from a variety of the granex onion. Today California Sweet onions can be found growing in the Imperial, San Joaquin, and Coastal Valleys of California and are sold at farmers markets and specialty grocers across the United States.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include California Sweet Onions 1015. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Ari's Menu |
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French Onion Meatloaf |
| Life Currents |
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Caramelized Onion Roasted Garlic Bisque |
| Mother Thyme |
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Egg, Caramelized Onion, and Avocado Breakfast Tacos |
| Fooduzzi |
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Vegan French Onion Soup |
