New Zealand's very first export organic onions have arrived in Europe - and the kiwi exporter who grew them was there to open the container for the historical moment.

New Zealand Grower, Bostock New Zealand, has exported organic onions for the first time as it moves to meet the growing demand for one of the world's most popular vegetables.

Bostock New Zealand Owner John Bostock said there was a lot more labour and work required to grow organic onions, as controlling weeds with chemicals wasn't an option.

"Organic onions are very challenging to grow. It's a different mind and skill set altogether," he said.

"We have to hand weed all our onions and we rely on expensive GPS technology to help with this weeding process," said Bostock.

Over 200 staff weed one onion paddock at the necessary time during the season.

"It's an intensive process having a whole field weeded by hand. There is so much care and nurture behind growing organic onions that people need to understand."