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FriJun 27

National Onion Day – June 27, 2025

Today, farmers in the United States are collecting millions of onions. They will be heading for store shelves to provide families with the fresh, nutritional, tasty power to improve meals and boost the body’s immunity. Onions have numerous advantages, such as enhancing meals with a variety of flavors. According to recent research, consuming onions also helps the body fight colorectal cancer and breast cancer, as well as heart disease and diabetes.

National Onion Day commemorates the incorporation of the National Onion Association in 1913. The organization was created to protect the interests of America’s onion growers, and onions remain their business to this day. Today, the group represents over 500 onion producers, shippers, packers, and suppliers across the country.

History of National Onion Day

In June 2022, the National Onion Association established National Onion Day to commemorate the organization’s 53rd anniversary. They officially incorporated on June 27, 1913, in Ohio, and represent almost 500 onion farmers, shippers, packers, and allied members across the U.S.

Onions are one of the world’s oldest cultivated vegetables, having originated in Central Asia and spread around the world. Some researchers believe the onion has been cultivated for at least 5,000 years. Onions were possibly eaten for thousands of years and cultivated all over the world at the same time, since they grew wild in different locations.

We rely on the onion to improve the flavor of our savory meals, whether we use a sweet, white, red, or ever-popular yellow onion. They complement meats and salads, making the versatile onion a culinary powerhouse. It’s the needed seasoning alongside our salt and pepper, whether added to eggs or pickled. While the onion is low in calories, it is also high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and can increase your dietary fiber and vitamin B6 intake. Unlike many other low-calorie ingredients, onions provide a high nutritional content without compromising flavor. And it makes no difference what you do to it; pickled or raw, caramelized, sauteed, or pureed — the onion adds a lot of flavor to a dish. With so many types to choose from, onions present numerous opportunities to reap the benefits.

National Onion Day timeline

3500 B.C.
The Onion is First Traced in Egypt

The history of the onion can be traced back to this period, with a Sumerian document describing someone being in awe of the city governor’s onion garden.

1500 B.C.
Ancient Egypt Worships Onions

To those who bury onions alongside their pharaohs, onions are a sign of eternity.

1913
National Onion Association Is Founded

On June 2, the National Onion Association is formally incorporated in Ohio.

2019
National Onion Day is First Celebrated

The National Onion Association establishes National Onion Day on June 27, to honor onion producers.

National Onion Day FAQs

Is an onion a vegetable or a fruit?

The vegetables are classified based on the edible part of the plant: leaves (like lettuce), roots (like carrot), bulbs (such as onions), and many others. Alternatively, fruits such as tomatoes and seeds such as peas are commonly referred to as vegetables.

Which country is the largest onion exporter?

According to FY18 data, China appears to be the top onion producer, but the Netherlands is the largest onion exporter.

Do onions aid in the treatment of infections?

Onions were worshiped for their medicinal powers by various civilizations. They have anti-inflammatory properties, relieve joint pain, treat ear infections, work as an antibiotic, and are an excellent expectorant for loosening up thick phlegm.

National Onion Day Activities

  1. Add fresh onion to your favorite recipe

    For a flavor boost, be sure to add some onion in there. No matter how you slice it, onion pulls together some of the greatest flavors! Tell us how you like to cook your onions!

  2. Learn how to grow onions in your backyard

    Gardening is fun! Furthermore, if you can cultivate some veggies like onions in your backyard, you can reduce the cost of your monthly groceries by harvesting them yourself.

  3. Share the celebration on social media

    Be sure to spread the word about National Onion Day by using the hashtag #NationalOnionDay on social media. Also, don’t forget to brag about your onion recipe or how you harvested your own onions.

5 Interesting Facts About Onion

  1. They’ve been around for thousands of years

    Onions have been present for thousands of years and, around 3,500 B.C, onions were harvested for the first time.

  2. Sulfuric acid

    The reason you become teary-eyed when cutting onions is because of the sulfuric acid they contain.

  3. Onions were worshiped by Ancient Egyptians

    They claimed that the spherical shape and concentric circles represented eternity — onions were used to cover the tombs of their monarchs and were important in ritual burials.

  4. The biggest onion ever

    According to ‘The Guinness Book of World Records’, the biggest onion ever was cultivated by Peter Glazebrook, a British farmer, who grew a massive onion in 2011 that weighed just under 18 pounds.

  5. The Big Onion

    Before it was known as the Big Apple, New York was known as the Big Onion, because it was a place where you could peel layer after layer without touching the center, kind of like an onion.

Why We Love National Onion Day

  1. It encourages cultivation

    Onions are an important, and healthy part of our diet. Why not grow and cultivate your own in your backyard?

  2. It promotes culinary creativity

    Who would have thought onions, known for making us cry, could be so sweet and delectable with some creativity? These days, almost all culinary innovations use onion for a unique flavor.

  3. It boosts the immune system

    Onions are rich in prebiotics. This helps to increase friendly bacteria in your guy, which helps to build immunity against viruses.

National Onion Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 June 27 Friday
2026 June 27 Saturday
2027 June 27 Sunday
2028 June 27 Tuesday
2029 June 27 Wednesday