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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Shallot |
| Scientific name | Allium cepa var. aggregatum |
| Family / Genus | Amaryllidaceae / — |
| Produce category | Allium |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4619 |
| PLU — organic | 94619 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_6995 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 25.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ambition | 22% | One of the most popular commercial hybrids. Known for high yield, excellent uniformity, and superior long-term storage capabilities. Bulbs are typically round to oval with coppery-brown skin and firm, |
| Conservor | 18% | A widely grown hybrid, valued for its large, uniform bulbs and exceptional storage potential. Features golden-brown skin and crisp, white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor. Good disease resistance. |
| Matador | 12% | Another strong commercial hybrid, known for its robust growth, good yield of uniform, medium-sized bulbs. Skin is typically golden-brown, and the flesh is firm with a balanced shallot flavor. Excellen |
| Dutch Yellow | 10% | A traditional, widely recognized cultivar. Produces round to oval bulbs with golden-brown skin and white, crisp flesh. Milder flavor than some French varieties. Known for good yield and reliable stora |
| French Red (Echalion) | 9% | Often referred to as ‘banana shallots’ or ‘echalions’ due to their elongated, torpedo shape. Coppery-red skin and pinkish-purple flesh. Stronger, more pungent flavor than rounder varieties. Good stora |
| Pikant | 8% | A popular hybrid known for its excellent flavor profile and good storage. Produces uniform, medium-sized bulbs with attractive coppery-brown skin. Flesh is firm and offers a classic shallot taste. |
| Zebrune (Cuisse de Poulet du Poitou) | 4% | An heirloom variety from France, known for its distinctive elongated, banana-like shape. Skin is typically pinkish-brown, and the flesh is delicate with a sweet, mild flavor. Valued by gourmet chefs a |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: null°F.
- Freezing point: 30.6°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 2 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.03 uL/kg/h typical (0.01–0.05) |
| Sensitivity class | very_low |
| Sensitivity threshold | null ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Shallots are non-climacteric and produce very little ethylene. They are also not sensitive to exogenous ethylene.
Mixed-load compatibility
Odor-emitting (Group 100)
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Increasing, driven by culinary trends and increased home cooking
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.6 |
| Income elasticity | 0.5 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| French Red | 60% |
| Dutch Yellow | 30% |
| Griselle | 10% |
Pack sizes
- 10 lb sacks/cartons
- 6 oz mesh bags
- 1 lb mesh bags
- Bulk
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.