PA Simply Sweet Onions

What is the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® Onion?

• The Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® Onion is a branded onion, licensed through the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association.

The onion is produced in Pennsylvania under a set of production and grading standards that result in a very high quality, large, sweet, non-pungent onion.

• Simply Sweet onions are available in many supermarkets and some roadside farm markets and farmer’s markets primarily in August and September.
• The production and marketing methods were developed and tested by researchers from The Pennsylvania State University with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

 

Who can grow, market and sell Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® Onions?

• In order to use the trademarked name “Pennsylvania Simply Sweet®” on or to describe their onions, growers and handlers must be licensed by the Pennsylvania Growers Association Simply Sweet Onion Committee.

Growers and handlers can apply for a license and, if granted, must follow strict guidelines on production, grading, drying, and packaging the product

• In 2009, there were 48 growers licensed to grown Simply Sweet Onions.  They planted just over 35 acres of onions.

What is the PVGA Simply Sweet Onion Committee?

• The Committee was established in February, 2003, by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association to administer the “Pennsylvania Simply Sweet®” onion trademark for the benefit of growers in the state.
• The Committee is composed of five onion growers, a representative from Penn State University and a representative from the Association Board of Directors

Harvest Valley Farms grows 50,000 onions a year and a large percentage meet the guidelines and are sold as PASS Onions!