Demand grows for organic Vidalia onions

The demand for organic has infiltrated the sweet Vidalia onion world — a demand that’s rising incrementally year after year, growers and marketers say.

“We have trouble keeping up with customer demand. It’s the fastest part of our business,” said Lauren Dees, sales and marketing manager of Generation Farms, Vidalia, Ga.

At Generation Farms, there are 150 acres of certified sweet onions, and its organic category is rising about 5% each year, Dees said.

Potandon Produce, Idaho Falls, Idaho, is expanding its organic offerings too, say Dick Thomas, senior vice president of sales, and Joey Dutton, key accounts and onion sales.

“As demand grows for organic, growers are trying to keep up with that demand,” Dutton said. 

“We’re just gradually increasing our markets as we expand our business and add growers in the Vidalia region, and increase tonnage.”

Expect organic Vidalias sooner rather than later.

Early varieties have better disease resistance and more daylength sensitivity in which the tops go down early and uniformly, according to the University of Georgia extension services. 

“Such onions continue to imbibe water and increase in size, which increases the mildness of the onions,” according to the university extension recommendations.

The packaging can also tow the line of the organic, sustainable ways.

In September, Shuman Farms, Reidsville, Ga., reduced the plastic by 38% with different netting and thinner film in its new consumer bags of organic RealSweet onions.

“The revamp of our organic packaging is just the beginning of an overall initiative to increase sustainability across all of or RealSweet brand products,” said company president and CEO John Shuman. 

Related content:
Organic fruit and vegetable news
Onion news and updates 
Vidalia onion news