Oignon doux des Cévennes

A storage onion cultivated on terraces in 32 municipalities of the Gard department, Oignon doux des Cévennes carries PDO protection registered under file number PDO-FR-0314. The specification requires a dry matter content of less than 10 % and mandates that marketing may not begin before 1 August of the year of harvest.

About this designation

Oignon doux des Cévennes is a storage onion produced exclusively on terraced slopes within a defined area of 32 municipalities in the Department of Gard, France, on the southeast edge of the Massif Central. The production area is characterised by granitic and schistose soils, a Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 12–13 °C, average rainfall of 1 500 mm, and the slopes of the massif de l'Aigoual, which reaches 1 565 m. The specification requires that the onions be sown and produced within the geographical area and that packaging also take place there, in plants identified by the managing group, the Association de Défense de l'Oignon doux des Cévennes (ADOC). Onions must be packaged in boxes with a maximum capacity of 12 kg or in mesh bags with a maximum capacity of 5 kg. The dry matter content must be less than 10 %. Marketing may not begin before 1 August of the year of harvest, and onions packaged after 15 May of the year following the year of harvest may not bear the designation. Labels must carry the name 'Oignon doux des Cévennes' in a font at least as large as the largest font used on the label, the designation 'AOP' and/or 'appellation d'origine protégée' immediately before or after the name, the European Union PDO logo, and a specific identification number corresponding to the producer code followed by the parcel code.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 25 September 2003 under file number PDO-FR-0314, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013472.
• The specification requires a dry matter content of less than 10 % and prohibits marketing before 1 August of the year of harvest.
• The production area is confined to exactly 32 named municipalities in the Department of Gard.
• Packaging must take place within the geographical area in plants identified by ADOC; boxes are limited to 12 kg and mesh bags to 5 kg.

Tasting notes

Cévennes sweet onion AOP from Gard mountain area. Pale-yellow papery skin, large round shape, juicy crisp white flesh, very sweet flavor (lowest sulfur of French onions), tender when cooked.

HoReCa use

The specification states that the onion is eaten raw, where the flesh is crunchy, juicy and sugary, and eaten cooked, where it becomes translucent, unctuous and juicy with a roasted, chestnut flavour.

Packaging

• mesh-bag-2kg
• mesh-bag-5kg
• crate-10kg
• crate-15kg
• jar-confit-200g
• jar-marmalade-300g