TV series to feature Vidalia onions and growers

The story of Vidalia onions comes to national television in a two-part special airing in April.

The special is set for April 12 and April 19 at 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. EDT on the RFD-TV Network series "Where The Food Comes From," according to a news release.

“People ask me all the time when we travel, ‘Is Vidalia a real place, or just the name of an onion?’ I’m very proud to show them just how real it is” producer and host Chip Carter said in the release.

Carter, a Georgian himself, has long been a fan of the trademarked crop. In fact, his tribute song "Sweet Vidalia" is featured in the episodes.

“It’s not about the onion, though,” Carter said. “It’s about the people, the place — and most of all, the spirit of a very special place.”

More information about Vidalia onion season and the TV series, including bonus clips and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show, is available at WhereTheFoodComesFrom.com.

"Where The Food Comes From" will tell the story behind the Vidalia onion and spotlight growers, including John Shuman of Shuman Farms, Aries Haygood of A&M Farm and Bo Herndon of Herndon Family Farms — all of whom have earned Vidalia Grower of the Year honors. The show also visits the University of Georgia Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center, where new varieties are tried and tested, the release said.

“It’s all in the soil,” UGA Extension Agent Chris Tyson said in the release. “It’s sandy enough to leach out some of the hotter elements. And it’s low in sulfur, which lets the sweetness shine through.”

"Where The Food Comes From," now in its fourth season on RFD-TV and heading into national distribution and syndication, travels the country telling stories of food and farming with 56 half-hour episodes produced to-date.