Kenny Alongi, age 11, of Island Lake, Ill., for his question:

WHY DO ONIONS MAKE YOU CRY?

Did you know that the onion belongs to the amaryllis family? It's true. Onions are added often to meat dishes and salads because they are flavorful. Actually, however, they aren't too high in vitamin content or energy value.

Onions have a strong taste and odor. The odor comes from a mildly stimulating oil that readily forms into a vapor. As the vapor escapes into the air when the onion is either cut or peeled, it can affect nerves in the nose connected with the eyes, and the vapor can bring a flow of tears.

Onions first grew in Mongolia but were brought to North America about 1750. They are grown in large amounts in California, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Texas as well as some Canadian provinces.