Q&A: Vidalia Onion Committee chairman predicts ‘steady supply’ for 2022 season

The Vidalia Onion Committee and Georgia Department of Agriculture have announced April 12 as the official 2022 pack date for Vidalia onions. Only available for a limited time each year, Vidalia onions from Georgia represent about 40% of the sweet onion market across America, notes the VOC. To learn more about the 2022 season and the approximately 10,000 acres of Vidalia onions that were planted by 60 registered farmers across 20 southeastern Georgia counties, The Packer recently connected with Vidalia Onion Committee Chairman Cliff Riner.

What’s the latest with this year’s Vidalia onion crop? Given inflation and rising food costs, are prices expected to be higher this year? 

Riner: The Vidalia onion crop is looking great so far, but anything can happen between now and harvest. We have 10,000 acres planted this year. We don’t have any information to provide in terms of price at this time.  

How did Vidalia onion sales perform in 2021? Do you expect demand to increase this year?

We saw a 13.7% increase in sales in the 2021 season compared to the 2020 season. Weekly sales of Vidalia onions in the 2021 season had a consistent pattern that was similar to the 2020 season. As people begin to host more at-home get-togethers, we hope to see an increase in sales of Vidalia onions for their dishes this season or at least in line with previous years. 

Does the VOC have any promotions or retailer initiatives planned for this year?

We are planning some marketing campaigns this year to kick off the 2022 Vidalia onion season, with plans in the works to partner with chefs and a beloved annual event in the spring [event details to be released soon].

What are the latest trends in usage and did the pandemic (with so many consumers cooking and consuming food at home) spur more experimentation with Vidalia onions? 

We don’t have any data that provides how, if at all, the pandemic has played a role in the usage of Vidalia onions. However, we’re always pleasantly surprised to see the different ways home cooks use Vidalia onions given their sweet flavor and versatility. 

Given the supply chain challenges impacting the entire food industry, do you have a sense of steps growers have taken to stay ahead of these challenges? Can retailers expect a steady supply through the season?

Every aspect of production and packaging the product has been affected by supply and timing challenges. Growers have had to adapt and think forward even more in advance to ensure certain materials arrive on time. However, with all sourcing challenges that have been faced, they seem to pale in comparison to trucking and freight challenges. 

Retailers should expect a steady supply of Vidalia sweet onions from the crop we have so far; however, with freight issues and costs, there will be challenges to face.