Chicago Onion Monopoly: The 1955 Market Manipulation and Subsequent Legislation

By | May 6, 2023

The Onion Futures Act is a piece of legislation in the United States that prohibits the trading of onion futures contracts. In 1955, a pair of traders acquired a substantial amount of onions and futures contracts, ultimately gaining control over 98% of the onions in Chicago. To compel growers to buy their inventory, these traders threatened to inundate the market with onions.

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