This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = cmd_00203(GDF v2.1.1, ? attributes, 29 sections).Renderer:
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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Pearl Onion |
| Scientific name | Allium cepa |
| Family / Genus | Amaryllidaceae / — |
| Produce category | Allium |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4608 |
| PLU — organic | 94608 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_210 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 8.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White Pearl Onion (General Type) | 50% | The most common type of pearl onion, known for its mild, sweet flavor and crisp texture. Often derived from small-bulb white onion cultivars. Excellent for pickling, roasting, and garnishing. |
| Gold Pearl Onion (General Type) | 30% | Also known as yellow pearl onions, these have a slightly stronger, more pungent flavor than white pearls, with a golden-brown skin. Good for roasting and adding depth to dishes. |
| Red Pearl Onion (General Type) | 15% | Distinctive for their reddish-purple skin and milder, sweeter flavor compared to larger red onions. They add visual appeal to dishes and are excellent in salads or roasted. |
| Crystal White Wax | 3% | A popular small white onion cultivar often harvested young for pearl onions or pickling. Known for its pure white skin and mild flavor. Excellent uniformity. |
| Purplette | 2% | A specific hybrid known for producing small, early-maturing, reddish-purple bulbs, often marketed as pearl or mini onions. Offers good flavor and visual appeal. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Freezing point: 30.4°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 1 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 uL/kg/hr typical (0.01–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | very_low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 100 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Strong odor can affect other produce in mixed loads.
Mixed-load compatibility
Group 4 (strong odor emitters)
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable, niche market with slow growth
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 0.7 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| White | 65% |
| Red | 20% |
| Gold | 15% |
Pack sizes
- 8 oz bags
- 10 oz bags
- 1 lb bags
- 5 lb cartons
- 10 lb cartons
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.