MONTGOMERY CREEK, CA – Commuters along Highway 299 in Northern California experienced serious delays last week when a semi-truck toppled spilling its piquant contents—79,000 pounds of onions—into oncoming traffic.

The crash, which occurred around 8:40 AM on Wednesday October 4^th, didn’t cause any injuries; it did, however block traffic for the better part of the day, according to local news source the Redding Record Searchlight.

Two-way traffic was completely blocked for more than an hour before the California Highway Patrol (CHP) could clear a lane. One-way traffic was restored by 10am, but ongoing efforts to clear bagged and stray onions persisted well into the afternoon. The CHP finally reported the road open and the produce wrangled at 2:34 PM—just in time for the afternoon commute.

No word was forthcoming on the fate of the onions involved, but I would speculate that some residents of the Redding area may be shorted some sweetness and spiciness in their soups, salads, and sandwiches this week.

For more on all things produce, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.