SWEET ONION (PREORDER)

~40 lbs Sweet Onion aka "Vidalia Onion", "Tian-Yang-Cong", "甜洋葱", "甜洋蔥" Sweet onion is usually larger than regular onion with a flattened appearance and thinner skin. It is much less pungent than other onion varieties and really tastes sweet. Sweet onions spoil faster and should be stored in the refrigerator. Sweet onion is great for onion rings, salads, and sandwiches. Sweet onion is available year-round. Handling Tip Selection Sweet onion is firm and heavy for its size. The papery skin is moist and without bruises. Avoid sweet onion that is sprouting. Storage The sweet onion should be stored at 32°F (0°C) with a relative humidity of sixty-five to seventy-five percent and no mist. Short term storage of seven days or less can be under 60°F - 65°F (16°C - 18°C) with a relative humidity of eighty-five to ninety-five percent and no mist. The typical shelf life is one to four months. Low temperature and low relative humidity are keys to longer shelf life. Higher temperature induces sprouting while higher relative humidity induces root growth. A combination of higher temperature and high relative humidity increases rotting and decreases quality.  Sweet onion is an odor producer and should not be stored with odor-sensitive products. Sweet onion is sensitive to sunlight. For best quality, keep onions in a dark area without sunlight. When exposed to sunlight, sweet onions may develop green spots. Sweet onion has a low level of sensitivity to ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that regulates ripening. High concentrations of ethylene will encourage sprouting in sweet onions. Sweet onion produces a very low level of ethylene. Sweet onion is not sensitive to chilling injury and can be stored at 27°F - 28°F (-3°C to -2°C). Storage at below 25°F (-4°C) may cause freezing injury. The freezing injury symptom is present in water-soaked spots.