Green Valley Onion Co.

For the Sobiech family, onion farming is more than a business—it’s a legacy built on perseverance, family, and a deep appreciation for the land.

That story began with great-grandfather Franciszek Sobiech, who immigrated from Poland in search of a better life. Leaving behind a factory job in New Jersey because of his health and his love of the land, Franciszek was drawn to New York’s rich Black Dirt Region. A 1941 National Geographic article captured the emotion many Polish immigrants felt upon seeing the fertile black soil, describing how they “fell to their knees weeping with joy and kissing the earth.” Franciszek and his wife began growing onions while he worked nights in a munitions factory, laying the foundation for generations to come.

Years later, one of their eight children, Edwin, met his future wife while weeding onions in those same fields. Together, they established Green Valley Onion Co., Inc. in 1974, creating a business that supplied supermarkets across the country while partnering with hundreds of family farms throughout the Black Dirt Region.

Today, the third and fourth generations — Ed Jr. and his children, Brennan and Olivia, Sobiech — work side by side in Pine Island, N.Y., blending decades of experience with fresh ideas. Family members oversee every step of the process—from growing and harvesting to packaging and transportation—working collaboratively with a shared commitment to quality, consistency, and integrity.

The Sobiech family invests in modern equipment and technology while believing that success comes from patience, hard work, and long-term relationships. Many employees have worked with the family for generations, preserving valuable knowledge and fostering a culture of loyalty and teamwork.

Harvest season brings those values into sharp focus. It truly becomes an “all-hands-on-deck” effort, with employees from every department pitching in to help bring in the crop. It’s a time that showcases the teamwork and dedication required to move onions from the field to consumers’ kitchens.

The family acknowledges that farming today is more challenging than ever. Rising costs, increased regulations, and rapidly advancing technology mean producing food requires significant investment and expertise. They hope consumers gain a greater appreciation for the hard work behind every bag of onions and recognize the importance of supporting local farms that help feed their communities.

Looking ahead, the Sobiech family knows agriculture will continue to evolve, with fewer generational farms remaining in business. Their greatest hope is that future generations develop a love for the outdoors, strong family values, and an appreciation for agriculture—qualities they believe naturally inspire the next generation of farmers.

As Green Valley Onion Co. celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, the milestone served as both a tribute to the generations who came before and a reminder that the family’s story is still being written. For the Sobiechs, carrying on the onion-growing tradition isn’t simply about growing a crop—it’s about honoring a legacy rooted in family, resilience, and the land they proudly call home.