John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms, Cobbtown, Ga., has been named the 2020 Grower of the Year by the Vidalia Onion Committee.
Shuman has contributed to the industry for more than 25 years, according to a news release.
His father, Buck Shuman, began growing Vidalia onions in the 1980s, and John Shuman took over in the early 1990s, rebuilding it from the ground up after the national farm crisis of the previous decade.
Today, Shuman Farms is one of the largest growers of Vidalia onions in North America, according to the release.
“In the last quarter century, John has played a leading role in building the Vidalia onion brand to become the country’s most iconic vegetable,” committee chairman Aries Haygood said in the release. “But even more importantly, John and his family have devoted considerable time and energy giving back to the community.”
Shuman earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University, is a former chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee, former chairman of the board of the Southeast Produce Council and a former member of the Georgia Ports Authority Board of Directors.
In 2002, Shuman founded Produce for Kids, now called Healthy Family Project, which has raised more than $7 million to benefit children and families, according to the news release.
Shuman Farms also donates annually to Feeding America and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Shuman thanked his wife, Lana, for her support, and other Vidalia onion growers for their advice along the way.
“As you know, it takes a village to do what we do, so this award goes to everyone at Shuman Farms. I want to especially thank my brother Mark for his dedication and leadership,” Shuman said in the release.
Vidalia onions have grown in popularity since their discovery in the 1930s. Federal regulations and state laws allow the name “Vidalia” to be placed on only sweet onions grown in 20 counties of southern Georgia from a distinctive Granex seed and packed and sold on, or after, the official pack date each year.
This variety has a sweet, mild flavor and is hand-cultivated by 60 registered growers, according to the release.
Vidalia onions represent about 40% of the sweet onion market and are sold nationwide.
