2020 Vidalia Onion packing set to start on this date
The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Vidalia Onion Committee have decided on April 16 for this year’s official pack date for the sweet onion.
That’s when growers, packers and shippers are allowed to start selling and moving their Vidalia onions, according to a news release.
“As the keeper of the official trademark for our state vegetable, we are proud of the reputation Vidalia onions have earned around the world by both renowned chefs and home cooks,” state agriculture commissioner Gary W. Black said in the release.
The mild, juicy onion is hand-cultivated by 60 registered growers in 20 southeastern Georgia counties. It’s available for a short period of time each year, mainly spring and summer.
The pack date is determined by soil and weather conditions during the growing season. The committee voted unanimously for the April 16 date, according to the release.
“We are going to have a strong harvest this year,” Aries Haygood, newly elected committee chairman, said in the release. He said 9,400 acres of Vidalia onions were planted for the season.
The committee will continue its Sweet Life marketing campaign launched in 2019 to reach home cooks across the country who enjoy cooking and entertaining.
“The campaign has enabled us to elevate our brand with broad groups of consumers who value good taste and living well,” Haygood said.
Vidalia onions represent about 40% of the U.S. sweet onion market and are sold in every state, according to the release.
The Vidalia trademark is owned by the state of Georgia because of the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986.
To be considered a Vidalia onion, the vegetables must be cultivated in the South Georgia soil from a Granex seed and packed and sold on or after the official pack date each year.
For more information, visit vidaliaonion.org.
Related news:
Morning Kiss Organic to offer Vidalia and other onions
Vidalia onion growers vote to continue marketing order
Vidalia Onion Committee kicks off Sweet Life campaign
