GLENNVILLE, GA - With the Viva Fresh Expo coinciding with the beginning of the highly anticipated Vidalia® onion season, Bland Farms® is using this year’s show to celebrate the season kickoff, build early momentum, and reinforce the supplier’s leadership in the category.
“Vidalias will always be at the heart of who we are, and this season is something our whole team looks forward to every year,” Troy Bland, Chief Executive Officer, shares ahead of the show. “We’re also debuting our refreshed Vidalia Brands look, which brings a modern, high‑impact identity designed to catch the impulse shopper’s eye and open up new cross‑merchandising opportunities.”
The company’s Viva Fresh showcase will include a complete merchandising ecosystem—including its year‑round Sand Candy® Sweet Potatoes—positioned to help retailers ride the momentum of the Vidalia harvest.
“Viva Fresh is one of the premier shows in the industry, bringing together the growers, shippers, retailers, and foodservice leaders who shape the Texas–Mexico corridor and beyond,” Troy continues. “It’s a high‑energy environment where innovation and partnership take center stage. For us, it’s the perfect moment to highlight what’s new, reinforce the strength of our programs, and connect with partners who are gearing up for the season ahead.”
As Troy tells me, Viva Fresh creates a direct line to the supplier’s existing partners and the retailer and foodservice partners it hopes to grow with. By bringing so many key decision‑makers together in one place, the show presents an ideal setting to discuss merchandising, category strategy, and program planning as Bland Farms’ fresh crop comes to market.
The trusted onion and sweet potato provider has earned its reputation by achieving one of the biggest feats in fresh produce: delivering consistency at scale.
“Our partners know that when they work with us, they’re getting high‑quality onions and sweet potatoes supported by a supply chain that performs season after season,” Troy explains. “From field management to packing to logistics, we’ve invested in the systems, technology, and people that keep product moving efficiently and reliably—giving our customers a level of stability they can build their programs around.”
Operational strength is only one component of the brand’s ambitious blueprint.
“Today, we’re equally focused on helping our retail and foodservice partners win at the shelf and on the menu. That means expanding our marketing capabilities with ready‑to‑use retail toolkits, social content, recipes, and video assets that make it easy to promote the category. It also means hands-on customer support from a team that understands how to drive sales,” Troy assures. “For us, a great partnership starts with a premium product and continues with the support to help sell it. We give our partners the specific tools and category insights they need to connect with shoppers and grow their bottom line.”
This year, Bland Farms will continue to focus on strengthening and expanding its 52‑week sweet onion and sweet potato programs, as demand for both categories continues to climb, including further investment in its organic program.
“Consumer interest in organic sweet onions and sweet potatoes remains high, and there’s tremendous opportunity for growth as retailers look to build out their offerings with consistent, high‑quality supply,” Troy adds. “Across all programs, our goal is the same: deliver reliable year‑round availability backed by the service, marketing support, and category leadership our partners expect from Bland Farms.”
It’s all waiting for you at booth #305 at the Viva Fresh Expo!
Companies in this Story
Bland Farms
Headquartered in Glennville, Georgia, Bland Farms is the largest grower, packer, and shipper of sweet onions in the…
