The Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association holds the trademark for the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion, a premium brand of Pennsylvania-grown sweet onions. The Association licenses growers to grow certain varieties under specified conditions (plastic mulch with drip irrigation). Onions grown by licensed growers under these terms and which meet certain quality standards are allowed to be marketed as Simply Sweets. Over the last several years, demand for the Simply Sweets in supermarkets has far exceeded the available supply.
Approximately 51 PVGA member growers will grow over 80 acres of the Simply Sweets in 2025. Growers in Lancaster County and beyond have banned together to establish a cooperative drying and packing operation to handle the Simply Sweets as have growers in the Centre and Clinton Counties.
The licensing procedures for the Simply Sweets are determined by the Association’s Simply Sweet Onion Committee.
For further information on how to obtain a license to grow Simply Sweets, contact PVGA at pvga@pvga.org.
What is the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® Onion?
The Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® onion is a branded onion, licensed through the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association (PVGA) and has been sold to local retailers since 2001.
This sweet onion is produced in Pennsylvania under a set of production and grading standards that result in a very high quality, large, sweet and non-pungent onion: each crop is tested for sugar content before packing.
Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® onions are available in many supermarkets, roadside farm markets and farmer’s markets around the state from the middle of July through September.
The varieties, growing methods and grade criteria were developed and tested by Dr. Orzolek and his team of researchers from Pennsylvania State University. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was responsible for funding the initial development of this sweet onion.
What is the PVGA Simply Sweet Onion Committee?
In February of 2003, the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association Simply Sweet Onion Committee was established to administer the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® onion trademark for the benefits of its member growers in the state.
The committee is composed of four onion growers, a representative from Penn State University, a representative from the PVGA Board of Directors, and a representative from Stauffer Huling Farms, Inc. as the onion marketer.
Who Said That All Sweet Onions Are Flat Onions?
The Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® onion has a thick, full-globe shape to it that is recognized as one of the sweetest onions in the industry.
When to Expect the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® Onion
Look for our seasonal Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® onions this Summer from the middle of July through September.
History of the Sweet Onion
The sweet onion has a remarkable history that dates back to the late 1800’s. Experts have traced the first sweet onion to a packet of seeds from the Canary Islands that were later transported to Southern Texas in 1898, where the sweet onion first rooted itself in American soil.
In 1933 researchers conducted various trials to breed newer, sweeter and larger varieties of the sweet onion. Research was successful and growth of the sweet onion exponentially increased throughout the United States.
Finally, in 2001, the sweet onion production expanded to Pennsylvania, where Dr. Orzolek, with Penn State University, tested a number of varieties that would sustain growth in the Pennsylvania climate. Pennsylvania began producing the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet® Onion with a modest production of 1,500 boxes in the first year. 2012 estimates put the PA Simply Sweet onion production at just over 60,000 boxes and anticipates further growth in upcoming years to be 75,000 by 2017.
