Onion packing Australia

Onion packing Australia Compliance

View Fresh Produce App Specifications and Requirements.

Pre-Packaging Onions:
Ideal for retail resale, we are able to pack quality onions in 1 and 2 kilogram mesh bags that are clipped and labelled.

Bags
Produce has the capacity to pack onions into 10 and 20kg mesh bags that are then sewn closed, providing safe and secure packing. Theses bags are stacked by our automatic palletiser from Holland. This machine produces a pallet superior to any stacked by hand and reduces tedious labour. Once completed, the pallet is automatically wrapped with a breathable mesh to secure them for transport.

Cartons
The premium lines of Onion Produce’s red and brown onions can be purchased in loose form, in either 10 or 14kg cartons. These are ideal for the retail or wholesale market.

Bulk onions
Need onions in bulk for your own packing, processing or export needs? Onion Produce can supply all of its onion lines in 1 tonne bulk bags.

Onion packing Australia Food Safety

Fresh produce quality inspection specifications & requirements. 

Onions are a food staple because they are a nutrient powerhouse and they flavour food like no other vegetable. Whether raw, sautéed, baked, barbecued or steamed, it would be difficult to imagine the cuisine of any country without them.

Onions are Australia’s fourth largest vegetable crop accounting for 9 per cent of total vegetable production. Australians consume approximately 7.8kg per capita each year.

Across Australia, there are about 300 commercial onion growers.

231,484 tonnes of onions were produced in Australia in 2015 with the total value of production $135.5 million. The wholesale value of the fresh supply was $143.3 million.

Australia is a net exporter of fresh onions. In 2015, Australia exported 39,420 tonnes of fresh onions, with Belgium the biggest importer.
The onions are planted by seed, with approximately 500,000 seeds per hectare. Planting begins in June and continues until September, with harvest beginning in January through to April. Depending on the conditions, the time from planting to harvest is usually 26‐32 weeks.

Once the onions harvested, they’re then cured for at least two weeks in large, naturally ventilated sheds. This improves the quality of the onions and increases their shelf life.

Onion packing Australia Packaging Standards

TEARLESS:  The unique onion variety is exactly as the name implies - an onion that’s less likely to make you cry when you cut it.

As a natural self-defense mechanism, onions release a combination of natural chemicals and enzymes (or ‘volatile compounds’) that can cause some tears and irritation when an onion is damaged or cut. Happy Chop - Tearless Onions contain fewer of these compounds, and these compounds continue to reduce after they are harvested, compared to regular onions where these compounds increase over time. This means they become more tearless over time.

Happy Chop - Tearless Onions were developed over decades using natural methods, including cross-breeding existing onion varieties.

Woolworths Supermarkets’ General Manager Fruit & Veg, Paul Turner said: “We’re excited to bring this incredible variety to our customers to take the tears out of meal prep. I’ve heard all sorts of stories about how people avoid tears when cutting onions - whether that’s wearing glasses, freezing onions or wearing a mask.

“These Happy Chop - Tearless Onions stand out as a unique innovation in Australian produce. Onions are a household staple and this is a great option for many people who end up in tears when preparing onions. It’s another way we continue to deliver on our promise to bring the best fresh fruit and veg to our customers,” said Mr Turner.

While being less pungent, Happy Chop - Tearless Onions retain a great onion flavour and are slightly sweeter than regular brown onions. They can be enjoyed raw or cooked.

Happy Chop - Tearless Onions are 100% Australian-grown exclusively for Woolworths.

They are available in 500g packs for $2.50 each. They are currently available in Woolworths Supermarkets in NSW, Victoria and the ACT between July - September 2023, while stocks last.