I like shallots but rarely buy them because I found them to be a PITA. What
I find in the grocery stores are usually small, pointy and hard to peel.
Worse still, there are often 2-3 all grown together and that makes them even
harder to peel. And the last ones that I bought at Winco were so hot and
spicy, nobody could eat them. I have also noticed that the ones I get in
the grocery store are usually purple on the outside.

But I got some in my CSA package and what a difference! These are round and
plump and a little larger than what I usually see in the store. The peel is
thin and easy to remove. The flesh is totally white and very mild. I am
assuming then that these are very fresh. And perhaps those in the grocery
store may have been around for some time.

But... Are there different varieties of shallots like there are onions?
I've been using dried ones for convenience sake but they too are purple.
Mild, but purple.