Although it seems like sweet onions are a relatively new item, they were first introduced to America around the turn of the century when a retired French Soldier brought some onion seeds from Corsica to the Walla Walla region of the Pacific Northwest. But it wasn't until the farmers in Georgia realized what a special thing they had in the Vidalia onion and began spreading the news that the sweet onion finally got the attention it deserves. Sweet onions are grown in soil with low amounts of sulfur, making them milder, causing less tears and problems with digestion. Because a sweet onion is also a fresh onion, it is very high in water content, which further dilutes the effect of the sulfur and increases mildness.
Sweet onions have a thinner, lighter color skin than storage onions and tend to be more fragile.
Although not a major crop in Florida, the market situation is expanding. January through April is the peak growing season for Florida Sweet onions. Onions are a member of the Allium family and have long been used for medical purposes. In addition to tasting great, onions contain 25 active compounds that appear to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells, help combat heart disease, inhibit strokes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and stimulate the immune system. Alliums are also antibacterial and antifungal and are believed to help ward off colds and relieve some gastrointestinal disorders.