Onion harvest: How sweet it is
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — Harvest of Walla Walla Sweet onions has begun. The official state vegetable has been grown in the Walla Walla Valley since the 1800s. This year, the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee anticipates growers will harvest about 14,917,500 pounds.
“Harvest typically lasts through the first part of August, which varies year to year based on weather,” Manager Kim Brunson said. “The hardest part of the heat is that it makes for an even earlier start to harvest each day.”
Planted in September and harvested by hand the following summer, the Walla Walla Sweet onion is an open-pollinated variety of sweet onion. It hibernates in the winter, then restarts growth in early spring.
“You can find Walla Walla Sweet onions in grocery stores, and at road stands in Walla Walla and surrounding areas,” Brunson said. “Be sure to look for the genuine Walla Walla Sweet onion label.”
Because they have a higher water content than most onions, Walla Walla Sweets have a shorter shelf life. The committee suggests storing them in the legs of clean pantyhose, tying a knot between each one. Hang them and when an onion is needed, snip below the lowest knot. They can also be wrapped in foil and refrigerated, or chopped and then frozen on a cookie sheet and sealed in containers.
