As the Northwest storage onion season winds down, quality is beginning to weaken.
- Quality defects include dry and watery scale, along with translucency
- Dry Scale
- Dry scale develops when an onion is maturing during its growth cycle
- When growth is hindered, due to excessive heat or lack of adequate water, the inner bulb may set a small layer of dry skin around the top of the bulb; the outer layers will grow around this, leaving what looks like a gap between the layers
- Translucency
- Translucency is characterized by a grayish, watery texture within the outer layer(s) of an onion when cut in half
- Dry Scale
- Translucency can form in storage, as well as in transit
- Onions near the bottom portion of a storage bin endure pressure from the weight of the onions piled above
- Supplies exposed to low temperatures can develop translucent scales during transport from storage sheds to production facilities or in-transit after shipping
- Watery Scale
- Onions with watery scales have an off-color and a water-soaked appearance internally
- This defect develops due to lack of nutrients, sub-optimal water treatment, and sharp temperature changes
- Suppliers are unable to detect defects during the sorting and packing process; the defects are internal and appear under the dry, outer skin of the onion
- Photos are attached
Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
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