More than a century ago, Italian immigrants who had settled in the lush green valleys outside Walla Walla in eastern Washington perfected a sweet onion.  Once considered just a humble local variety, the Walla Walla onion today is prized for its mild sweet flavor.

It commands higher prices in grocery stores and is feature in many high-end restaurant menus. In 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire signed legislation designating the Walla Walla sweet onion as Washington’s official state vegetable.