Onions are not doing well as the market seems to be rather unresponsive this year. Quantities are abundant, but consumption is slow.
"There was no planning and now there is too much produce available, so prices are low. There are many producers who improvise as onion growers. I understand them, though. The European Union deprived them of the possibility of growing sugar cane and peaches are not profitable enough. They need to grow something after all," explains Angelo Zirondelli, producer from Medicina di Bologna.
Zirondelli grows on around 10 hectares and worries about imported produce. "We see produce from all over the world even though our production is abundant. This way, prices remain low."
Verona producer Guido Dal Barco also talks about imports. "There are onions from Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands available on the market, making it rather heavy. Stocks are still abundant. I don't think quantities are more abundant than in other years, but demand is slow. At least quality is exceptional, though."
Zirondelli mentioned quality as well. "Those with efficient dehumidifying cold storage units have no storage problems."
"The golden onion market is at a standstill, but white onions are hanging in there," reports Matteo Freddi, a producer from Reggio Emilia. "Red onions are also doing poorly, despite the fact that stocks are not excessive."
The types of onions more abundant on the market are, in decreasing order: golden, white, red, coppery (Globruna and di Milano), Borettana and shallots.