Holland Onion on an important mission

Onions are quite simply fascinating. No other vegetable has so many different layers. They add colour, timbre and depth to flavours and dishes all across the world. Without onions many countries would likely find themselves in a great culinary depression. And then we have only just talked about the Holland onion in its role as our national export hero. There are of course – yes even in the Netherlands…- onions whose quality is inadequate to be given the title of Holland Onion. But if it’s up to the Dutch onion chain, this residual stream is given a second life. 

Holland Onion Association takes her corporate social responsibility very seriously and is increasingly focusing on the importance of utilising as many of its residual streams to bring about social changes in the world. For example; 30.000 tons of dry onion peels remain in the Netherlands on an annual basis, the so-called dry outer skins. Important nutritional components can be found in these skins, such as the high-quality and health improving quercetin. This antioxidant is of great importance to the human body to improve the defence mechanism and can even help prevent diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders.

As a chain, the Holland Onion Association is now investing in in the development of an innovative extraction method, which has already given the Netherlands a worldwide lead when it comes to isolating this antioxidant in an environment-friendly manner. With the help of this extraction technology we might be able to extract high-quality quercetin in the future, so that this Dutch onion ingredient can be used worldwide in food as well as natural dye.

A great and valuable mission for our Holland Onion!