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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Cipollini Onion |
| Scientific name | Allium cepa |
| Family / Genus | Amaryllidaceae / — |
| Produce category | Allium |
| Produce subcategory | Onion |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4607 |
| PLU — organic | 94607 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_263 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 4.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Cipollini | 50% | The most common type, featuring classic flattened golden-brown bulbs. Known for its exceptionally sweet and mild flavor, making it ideal for roasting, grilling, and caramelizing. Excellent storage pot |
| Red Cipollini | 25% | Distinctive reddish-purple skin with a flattened disc shape. Offers a slightly more robust, yet still sweet, flavor compared to the gold variety. Popular for adding color to dishes and for pickling. |
| Borettana | 15% | A traditional Italian heirloom variety, often considered the original Cipollini type. Features flattened golden-brown bulbs with a very sweet and delicate flavor. Highly prized for gourmet application |
| White Cipollini | 10% | Less common commercially, this variety has a pure white skin and a very mild, delicate flavor. Its subtle taste makes it suitable for raw applications or dishes where a very light onion flavor is desi |
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: 1 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 µL/kg·h typical (0.01–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | very_low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Ethylene exposure can accelerate sprouting in some onion varieties, but generally not a major concern for dry onions under optimal storage.
Mixed-load compatibility
Onions emit strong odors and should not be stored with odor-absorbing commodities.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Slow and steady growth, driven by culinary interest and specialty food markets.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 0.8 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Standard Cipollini | 100% |
Pack sizes
- 8 oz
- 12 oz
- 1 lb
- 2 lb
- 10 lb
- 25 lb
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.