A new onion that does not cause tears while chopping has enjoyed its first season of wide retail availability in the U.S.

Sunions are a long-day variety grown in the U.S. states of Nevada and Washington. They are a product of more than three decades of research, development and natural hybridization by Bayer Crop Science.

Unlike other long-day onions, Sunions actually become sweeter and "more tearless" in storage, according to a release.

Most other sweet onions available during the Sunions window of availability – typically November to April – are currently imported from South America. 

During their inaugural season, Sunions racked up more than 1.2 billion media impressions in print, web, radio and television media.

Partnerships with consumer website Buzzfeed Food, YouTube influencers, and a series of videos on Facebook and Instagram meant that nearly 4 million people saw Sunions.

A sensory panel, which has authority and power to determine ship dates follows a protocol including both flavor and tearlessness, released Sunions for distribution to the market in late November 2017, with the season coming to a close in late April this year.

Sunions are marketed and distributed exclusively by Generation Farms, Onions 52 and Peri & Sons Farms.

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