Like grapes grown for fine wine, onions also respond to soil qualities, sunlight, and the latitude and longitude of their growing region. The rich volcanic soils and dry climate in this area produce some of the finest onions in the world, giving them a unique combination of mild flavor, large size, and tight, dry skins.
Our growers plant yellow, red, and white varieties of sweet Spanish seed. Sometimes these onions are also called “Spanish Onions” or “Spanish Sweets.” The crop is planted in March and April, and harvest begins in August and continues into October. Yellow onions account for approximately 90% of the acreage. With state-of-the-art storage facilities, premium Idaho-Eastern Oregon onions are available from August to April.
The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee administers Marketing Order #958 which has been in effect since 1957. This program requires product grade and quality standards that exceed USDA standards. Each bag or box that is shipped as US #1 must be Federal/State inspected before it can be shipped out the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion growing area.