This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = eggplant(GDF v2.0, 3082 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Eggplant |
| Scientific name | Solanum melongena |
| Family / Genus | Solanaceae / Solanum |
| Produce category | Nightshade |
| Produce subcategory | Fruit Vegetable |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4081 |
| PLU — organic | 94081 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_2567 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 150.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black Beauty | 35% | Classic dark purple-black skin, large oval fruit (1-2 lbs), tender white flesh, mild flavor. Most widely recognized commercial variety. Excellent for slicing and general culinary use. |
| Epic | 18% | High-yielding hybrid, glossy dark purple fruit, excellent uniformity, disease resistant (Verticillium and Fusarium). Teardrop shape, 6-8 inches long. Strong market performance. |
| Graffiti (Sicilian) | 8% | Stunning purple and white striped skin, smaller oval fruit, sweet mild flavor, tender texture. Growing specialty market presence. Also called Striped Toga or Fairy Tale. |
| Japanese (Long Purple) | 12% | Slender elongated fruit (8-10 inches), thin glossy purple-black skin, very tender flesh with few seeds. Popular in Asian markets and high-end restaurants. Less bitter than globe types. |
| Chinese (Orient Charm) | 7% | Very long slender fruit (12-15 inches), lavender to purple skin, sweet delicate flavor, minimal seeds. Preferred for stir-frying. Growing market in Asian specialty produce. |
| Italian (Rosa Bianca) | 4% | Round to oval shape, lavender-pink and white bicolor skin, creamy sweet flesh with no bitterness. Premium specialty variety, highly prized by chefs. Excellent for roasting. |
| Ichiban | 6% | Japanese-style long slender fruit, glossy dark purple, 10-12 inches, early maturing, very productive. Commercial hybrid popular in both conventional and specialty markets. |
| Thai (Long Green) | 3% | Slender elongated fruit, light green to white-green skin, mild slightly sweet flavor. Essential for Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine. Growing specialty market segment. |
| White | 3% | Pure white skin, oval to round shape, mild delicate flavor, creamy texture, less bitter than purple varieties. Novelty and specialty market. Includes varieties like Casper and Ghostbuster. |
| Indian (Baby) | 4% | Small round to oval fruit (2-4 inches), deep purple or green, used in Indian and South Asian cuisine. Growing demand in ethnic markets. Includes varieties like Bharath and Little Fingers. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 30.6°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | moderate |
| Production rate (20°C) | 4 μL C2H4/kg·hr typical (0.5–7) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: Eggplant produces moderate ethylene but is not highly sensitive to it. Main concern is chilling injury at temperatures below 50°F, not ethylene exposure.
Mixed-load compatibility
tropical_sensitive
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily at 3-4% annually driven by ethnic cuisine popularity, plant-based diets, Mediterranean diet adoption, and increased restaurant usage; specialty varieties growing faster at 8-10% annually
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.85 |
| Income elasticity | 0.42 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.65 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Globe/American | 65% |
| Italian | 12% |
| Japanese | 10% |
| Chinese | 6% |
| Indian/Baby | 4% |
| White | 2% |
| Thai/Specialty | 1% |
Pack sizes
- 25 lb cartons
- 20 lb cartons
- 18-22 lb bushels
- 10 lb cartons (specialty)
- 5 lb cartons (baby/specialty)
- 1-2 lb clamshells
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.