From Humble Roots to National Leader, Onions 52 Delivers Freshness and Sustainability 52 Weeks a Year

Back in 1977, a group of farmers in Northern Utah came together to form what was first known as Utah Onions. Their focus was simple: produce one of the most essential ingredients in cooking: the onion. Over the years, this small, community-driven venture grew into something much larger. Today, the company, now called Onions 52, operates across the U.S., but it didn’t happen overnight. It took careful planning, strategic partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to quality to get there, all while holding onto the company’s humble beginnings.

The story of Onions 52 actually goes back even further, to the 1940s. At the time, a few Utah farmers needed help marketing and selling their fresh produce. They teamed up with Charles H. Dredge, whose company, CH Dredge, took care of packing and distributing their onions and other crops to local communities. This partnership laid the groundwork for what would become a much bigger operation. By 1977, Utah Onions was officially established and quickly gained a reputation for growing and shipping high-quality onions. The next big shift came in 2005, when Shawn and Trent Hartley, along with Brad Dahl, took over and guided the company into its next phase of growth.

Their vision was clear: expand both in geography and in market presence. By 2017, Utah Onions had grown so much that the company rebranded itself as Onions 52—a nod to their ability to deliver fresh, high-quality onions all year long. Today, they’re one of the top suppliers of yellow, red, white, sweet, organic, and even tearless onions. With growers in six states and connections extending into Mexico, they’ve built a robust supply chain to ensure their products reach customers nationwide.

Despite their expansion, Onions 52 remains grounded in their core principles: quality, consistency, and reliability. They’re known for their dedication to delivering top-notch onions week after week, even in an industry full of unpredictable challenges like weather and market shifts. By overseeing the entire process—from growing to packing and shipping—they make sure their onions meet, and often exceed, customer expectations.

Onions 52 offers an impressive variety of onion products that cater to diverse culinary needs, each carefully grown and selected to meet high standards of quality. Among their most popular products are yellow onions, known for their versatility and ability to enhance flavors in slow-cooked dishes like soups, stews, and roasts. With sizes ranging from medium to super colossal, these onions are a staple in kitchens across the country. Red onions, with their vibrant color and rich flavor, are perfect for adding a punch to salads, burgers, or even raw in various recipes. Meanwhile, white onions offer a zesty, sharp taste that pairs beautifully with Mexican cuisine, making them a popular choice for salsas and tacos.

Their focus on quality extends to sustainability as well. Onions 52 uses water-saving techniques like drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to the plants’ roots, helping to reduce waste and promote healthy growth. They’re also moving toward eco-friendly packaging options, such as reusable plastic containers and pallets. Onions 52 is certified by the Equitable Food Initiative, highlighting their commitment to social responsibility and worker safety.

Sustainability at Onions 52 goes beyond just environmental efforts. It’s also about ensuring long-term success for their crops. They carefully select the best seeds, use crop rotation, and plant cover crops to maintain soil health. This not only benefits the land but also enhances the quality of the onions they grow.

Images: Courtesy of Onions 52

What really sets Onions 52 apart is how they balance tradition with innovation. While their roots go back over 80 years, they’re always looking for new ways to push the envelope. One example is their tearless Smileys™ onions, a sweet variety that becomes milder over time. It’s a fresh twist on a kitchen staple, offering a tear-free cooking experience.

Onions 52 also takes food safety very seriously. They undergo independent audits and consistently score top marks for their cleanliness and management practices. Their traceability system, featuring scannable stickers on their onions, allows customers to track where their products come from—something not all companies offer.

At its core, Onions 52 is still a family-run business, and that personal touch comes through in customer relationships. They pride themselves on treating every partner like family, and it’s this commitment that has earned them decades of trust in the industry.

As the company continues to grow, with a new packing facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, they remain focused on the values that have guided them: quality, reliability, and a deep respect for the land and people behind their products.