How sweet is sweet?
A Certified Extra Sweet™ Sweet Onion is a Sweet Onion which has been tested by National Onion Labs, Inc. for the flavor characteristics that consumers expect from an extra mild, extra sweet Sweet Onion. A Certified Extra Sweet™ Sweet Onion has a pungency level less than 3.5 on the National Onion Labs Sweetometer™ scale. National Onion Labs makes no comment about the flavor characteristics of onions it has not tested.

Who is National Onion Labs, Inc.?
National Onion Labs, Inc. was formed in 1998 to assess sweet onion flavor for consumer satisfaction. Onions, which pass extensive National Onion Lab tests, are identified as Certified Sweet™ or Certified Extra Sweet™ and are available from leading national and international growers, marketers and grocers.

Why is certification important to you?
Growers utilizing NOL's Certification Program have the security of knowing that their onions will meet the expectations of the consumer. Therefore their onions and reputations are indeed "sweet."

The Certification Program adds a level of confidence in a market where there are no flavor standards for sweet onions.

Each field enrolled in the certification program is mapped into lots. Upon harvest, each lot is tested - making sure the onions grown there meet the strict flavor guidelines. The lots that meet the criteria are then "certified" by NOL's staff.

This certificate follows the individual lot of onions thorough the entire harvesting process - from the field to the market. The entire process is constantly checked and audited to ensure proper identification and labeling of "certified" product.

Visit National Onion Lab's web site