Onion

        Onion is one of the important condiments widely used in all households all the year round. The green leaves and immature and mature bulbs are eaten raw or used in preparation of vegetables. Onions are most often used to enhance flavors in a wide range of recipes , soups, sauces casseroles, pizzas, stews salads and for seasoning foods. World onion production is estimated at approximately 105 billion pounds each year. The average annual onion consumption calculates to approximately 13.67 pounds of onions per person across the world The small bulbs one pickled in vinegar.

Desi Red

       Onion is an important crop in all continents with world production of about 25 million tones. There has been a progressive increase in area and production of onion in Pakistan. In 1998-99, the area increased to 84.3 thousand hectare, production 1138.2 thousand tones and yield was 13.5 tones/ha. Varieties                                             Pulkara , Desi Red , Pink Onion ,    Sariab Red ,Chiltan , Swat                                                               

Yellowish

   Production zones/cropping pattern              Production zones/cropping pattern   The major onion growing districts are Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkar, N. Feroze and Badin in Sindh and in Punjab  Kasur, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Vehari, Khaneawal, D.G. Khan, and Jhang and in NWFP Swat  and in Baluchistan Mastung, Kalat, Chagai, Khuzdar and Turbat. These 21 districts account for more than 76 percent of the total production of onion in Pakistan. More than 50 percent of the total production comes from seven districts namely Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Swat, Mastung, Kalat and Turbat .

The Color of Onions   

                         Onions come in three colors – yellow, red, and pink.  Approximately 60 percent of the crop is devoted to red onion production, with about 37 percent yellow onions and 3 percent white onions. Red onions are full-flavored and are a reliable standby for cooking almost anything.  Red onions turn a rich, dark brown when cooked and give French Onion Soup its tangy sweet flavor.  The Yellow / Golden onion, with its wonderful color, is a good choice for fresh uses or in grilling and char-broiling. White onions are the traditional onion used in classic Mexican cuisine.  They have a golden color and sweet flavor when sauteed.

onions at godown

Onion History                                     Because onions are small and their tissues leave little or no trace, there is no conclusive opinion about the exact location and time of their birth. Many archaeologists, botanists and food historians believe onions originated in central Asia. Other research suggests that onions were first grown in Iran and West Pakistan.

Healthy Facts                                      Onions not only provide flavor; they also provide health-promoting photochemical as well as nutrients. Consumption of onions may prevent gastric ulcers by scavenging free radicals and by preventing growth of the ulcer-forming microorganism, Helicobacter pylori.