Egypt onions in Gujarat, but not suitable for Gujarati recipes

Ahmedabad, 3 November 2013

Due to shortage of domestically grown onions, the traders in Maharashtra have started sending imported onions to APMC markets in Gujarat. However consumers find that taste-wise Egypt onions are not suitable for Gujarati recipes.

Due to damage to onion crop in Satna, Nashik and other areas of Maharashtra, the traders in Maharashtra are importing onions from Egypt. They have pushed 100 bags of Egypt onions to APMC market in Surat in south Gujarat.

Egypt onions were bigger in size compared to Indian onions and therefore sold out in hours broadly due to curiosity factor. However consumers who used Egypt onion said, though this variety is bigger in size, but it is lighter in weight. Consumers have found Egypt onions very soft due to more liquid content in it compared to Indian onions. Consumers said, Egypt onion’s dull taste had no match to Indian variety. The verdict is – Egypt onions are not suitable for Indian/Gujarati recipes!

Traders dealing in Surat APMC alleged scam in onion import/export. They said union Agriculture minister first exported good quality Indian onions abroad at cheaper prices, and then imported low quality foreign onions on higher prices.