15-04-2025
Vidalia Sweet Onions officially packaged, shipped to stores across the nation
GLENNVILLE, Ga. (WSAV) — Vidalia Sweet Onions are officially packaged and on the way to grocery stores all over the nation and parts of the world.
April 15 marked packaging day for all growers of the unique crop. This day is determined by crop and weather conditions.
WSAV visited G&R Farms in Glennville on packaging day. Cliff Riner, Vice President of Ag Production and Grower Relations, walked us through their process of clipping, cleaning, sorting and packaging.
Riner estimated over 10 million onions filled one of their 99-acre fields. Of the 20 counties that are certified to grow Vidalia Sweet Onions, Tattnall and Toombs produce about 90%of the trademarked crop, according to Riner.
'We have a lot of demand. We have people begging for our onions,' Riner said.
The sandy soil in Southeast Georgia is what makes this crop a signature Vidalia Sweet Onion, along with genetics, of course.
Riner said when shopping for individual onions, make sure to look for the numbers 4159 on the sticker. That's the trademark sweet onion label.
Between G&R Farms and their contract growers, over 1,000 semi-trailer loads full of onions are shipped out each season.
'That's just our operation. We've got Bland Farms and Shuman Farms of equal size and scope, so it's of big economic importance to the county,' Riner said.
G&R has about 70 full time workers year around, not to mention the hundreds of men and women they hire through the H-2A program for clipping and planting each season.
Riner said the demand for these unique onions continues to grow.
'We've got the I-75 and I-95 corridor right here in between us, so we can get these onions to the major population of the U.S. pretty fast and at a better rate than like a California onion or a western onion,' Riner said. 'I've been traveling before and been in an airport way off and I'LL have a shirt and it will say Vidalia Onions, and they all look at me and say I know that. It's very unique to have that kind of pride.'
The Vidalia Sweet Onion season is expected to run through early September.
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