<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%">Vidalia, GA</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Jordan Okumura<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">04.22.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The Vidalia region has seen an unexpectedly slow start to harvest due to above average rainfall and unseasonably cold weather. Growers in the region are now facing another issue with their 2013 crop. Seed stems, also known as “bolters,” “flower stalks,” or “seeders,” are showing up throughout the Vidalia® onion production district in significant numbers, according to a press release.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Beginning early last week, emails and phone calls began pouring in to the Vidalia Onion Committee about widespread, high percentages of seed stems that were noticed the week before across the production area.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/onion_body.jpg" alt="Images 041913" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Multiple stress factors can affect the health of an onion and lead to seed stems During the course of the growing season. The condition causes the core of an onion to become hollow, which results in rapid deterioration of the entire onion, the release states. Onions that do have seed stems are easily recognizable during the grading process and can be removed as a result ensuring there will not be a drop in quality at retail.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The season for Vidalia® sweet onions typically begins shipping in mid-April with fresh supplies available through early June. Available storage capacity can enable shippers to ship storage supplies through August.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.vidaliaonion.org/trade/the_power_of_the_vidalia_brand" target="_new"> Vidalia® Onion Committee</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
