Woolworths is about to gladden the hearts, and dry the eyes, of cooks everywhere with a ground-breaking vegie release.

The supermarket giant said on Monday it was poised to launch Australia’s first crop of “tearless onions” in its shops in NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

“We’re excited to bring this incredible variety to our customers to take the tears out of meal prep,” Woolworths Supermarkets’ general manager fruit and veg Paul Turner said.

“I’ve heard all sorts of stories about how people avoid tears when cutting onions – whether that’s wearing glasses, freezing onions or wearing a mask.”

The Happy Chop – Tearless Onions will be available from Wednesday until September (unless they run out earlier).

Woolworths said they contain fewer of the volatile compounds that onions produce when they are damaged or cut. The compounds also decline when the onion is harvested, meaning they become more tearless over time.

The retailer said the Happy Chop onions had taken decades to develop through methods such as cross-breeding existing varieties.

“These Happy Chop – Tearless Onions stand out as a unique innovation in Australian produce,” Mr Turner said.

“Onions are a household staple and this is a great option for many people who end up in tears when preparing onions. It’s another way we continue to deliver on our promise to bring the best fresh fruit and veg to our customers.”

The company says the onions are less pungent but still have a great flavour – and are slightly sweeter than regular brown onions. They can be eaten raw or cooked.

They are available in 500-gram packs for $2.50 each.