IFPA 2025 Timing is Right for Bland Farms Peruvian Sweet Onions and Sand Candy® Sweet Potatoes; Troy Bland Discusses

GLENNVILLE, GA - When Bland Farms transitions from Vidalia® onions to Peruvian Sweet onions, the move is from one home to another. Sitting down with Troy Bland, Chief Executive Officer, he knows the Peruvian soil as well as if he’d walked out of his own Georgia backyard.

“We’ve been farming in Peru for close to three decades now, and that kind of long-term commitment makes all the difference. Today, we’ve got over 1,000 acres there, and unlike a lot of companies that just contract fields, we grow and manage our own crops. My dad, Delbert, our agronomist, Omar Cruz, and I spend time there ourselves, making sure things are done the right way. That level of direct involvement means we can guarantee consistency and quality, season after season,” Troy shares. “Because we’ve worked the same fields for so many years, there’s no guessing game—we know the land, the climate, and the people who farm it with us. That stability is a big reason retailers can count on us for a reliable, premium sweet onion program year-round, both organic and conventional.”

But it’s about more than onions. Those who have followed Bland Farms knows that the company’s incredibly aware of the soil its roots are so deeply embedded in.

“We care about the land and the people. In Peru, as in Georgia and Mexico, we see farming as a responsibility. We invest in the communities we serve, create steady jobs, and do our best to farm in a way that leaves the soil and environment better for the next generation,” Troy explains.

It is why the company is continuously innovating in the field and in its facilities. Appreciation for the land they farm is a Bland family signature.

“What really makes Peru special is the climate,” Troy says with enthusiasm. “Down there, it’s sunny, dry, and consistent—very little rainfall. In Georgia, we deal with about 60 inches of rain a year, which brings disease pressure and makes it harder to manage the crop. In Peru, we can spoon-feed the onions exactly what they need through drip irrigation. That control gives us a reliable, clean, sweet onion year after year. It’s as close as you can get to a Vidalia without being in Vidalia country.”

Traveling back up to the U.S., specifically to North Carolina, Troy tells me that alongside Bland’s premium sweet onions, the company is also digging into its Sand Candy^® Sweet Potatoes in time for autumn demand.

“At the heart of Sand Candy is the Covington sweet potato, which has become the gold standard in the category. Covingtons check every box for buyers: they’re consistent, versatile, and proven sellers. Shoppers already trust them for their uniform size and shape, rich orange flesh, and natural sweetness. They also ship well, store well, and perform across everything from retail displays to foodservice kitchens,” Troy shares.

And there’s more behind that success. Developed by North Carolina State University, Covingtons—named after Henry M. Covington—now make up the majority of sweet potato production in the region thanks to high yields, long storage life, and resistance to common diseases.

“When you combine those strengths with Sand Candy’s multi-state footprint, you’ve got a reliable year-round program that delivers exactly what retailers and consumers are looking for,” he concludes.

All in all, it makes for a very sweet one-two combo for the southern grower. And perfectly timed with holiday prep as the industry gears up to meet at IFPA in Anaheim, California, come October. Meet with Troy and the team when you swing by booth #1226 October 16–18.