This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = turnip(GDF v2.0, 3027 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 | Turnip |
| Scientific name | Brassica rapa var. rapa |
| Family / Genus | Brassicaceae / Brassica |
| Produce category | Root Vegetable |
| Produce subcategory | Brassica Root |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4565 |
| PLU — organic | 94565 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_8002 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 45.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Top White Globe | 35% | Most popular commercial variety. Round globe shape, purple crown, white base. Mild, sweet flavor. 55 days to maturity. Excellent storage quality. Dual-purpose roots and greens. |
| Tokyo Cross | 18% | Fast-maturing F1 hybrid (35 days). Small, pure white, smooth roots 2-3 inches diameter. Very mild, sweet flavor. Premium salad variety. Disease resistant. |
| Hakurei | 15% | Japanese salad turnip. Small, smooth white roots. Exceptionally sweet, crisp texture. Best harvested at 1-2 inches. Premium restaurant variety. 38 days to maturity. |
| Golden Ball | 8% | Heirloom variety dating to 1850s. Round, golden-yellow skin and flesh. Fine-grained, sweet, buttery flavor. Excellent for cooking. 60 days to maturity. |
| Scarlet Queen | 7% | All-red hybrid variety. Bright red skin and flesh. Sweet, mild flavor. Maintains color when cooked. 45-50 days. Popular in specialty markets. |
| White Lady | 6% | F1 hybrid with pure white, smooth skin. Globe-shaped, 3-4 inches. Excellent uniformity. Sweet, mild flavor. 45 days. Good disease resistance. |
| Market Express | 5% | Fast-maturing commercial hybrid (38 days). Uniform globe shape. White base with purple top. Good for bunching. Disease tolerant. |
| Oasis | 3% | White salad-type hybrid. Fast maturity (40 days). Small to medium roots. Very smooth, tender texture. Heat tolerant for longer season. |
| Gilfeather | 2% | Vermont heirloom rutabaga-turnip cross. Large, elongated roots. White skin, sweet mild flavor. Excellent keeper. 75 days. Popular in Northeast markets. |
| Royal Crown | 1% | F1 hybrid with vibrant purple crown. Uniform globe shape 3-4 inches. Sweet, tender flesh. Good cold tolerance. 50 days. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: null°F.
- Freezing point: 30.1°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 2 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.5 μL/kg·hr typical (0.1–1) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | null ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Turnips produce very little ethylene and are relatively insensitive to ethylene exposure. Compatible with most commodities in mixed loads.
Mixed-load compatibility
group_1_root_vegetables
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? Yes
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable to slightly declining in mainstream channels. Growing interest in farmers markets and ethnic markets (particularly Japanese and Korean communities for salad turnips). Restaurant adoption increasing for roasted preparations and pickling applications.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 0.3 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Purple Top White Globe | 55% |
| Tokyo Cross | 15% |
| Hakurei | 12% |
| Golden Ball | 8% |
| Scarlet Queen | 5% |
| Other specialty varieties | 5% |
Pack sizes
- 25 lb cartons
- 40 lb cartons
- 50 lb sacks
- 24-count bunched
- 12 oz clamshells (baby)
- 1 lb film bags
- 2 lb film bags
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.