REIDSVILLE, GA - Retailers and Vidalia® onion lovers alike can rejoice as the Vidalia Onion Commission and Georgia Department of Agriculture have announced the season’s official pack and ship date: April 17. So, mark your calendars because growers like Shuman Farms are preparing to harvest and send out their sweet onions.
“Consumers wait eight months for the start of Vidalia season. We encourage our retailer partners to build on that excitement in their produce departments by creating show-stopping displays welcoming their customers to the start of the season,” says John Shuman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Shuman Farms. “The quickest and easiest way to drive Vidalia onion and overall produce department basket size is with cross-merchandising.”
As John explains, Vidalia onions play nicely with many other items in the department and provide an excellent opportunity to drive sales for different categories. For example, when consumers have Vidalia onions in their basket, they are six times more likely to purchase peppers, five times more likely to buy mushrooms and squash, four times more likely to purchase potatoes and tomatoes, and three times more likely to buy fresh beef.
To stock these displays, Shuman Farms is looking to harvest soon, and this year’s crop is anticipated to be of good quality, with a variety of sizing available. An upgrade is also in the works, which will help get its onions to its partners faster.
“We are currently wrapping up an extensive renovation of our packing facility in Cobbtown, Georgia,” adds John. “Upgrades and changes to our repack room, including installing a new grader, will increase productivity and efficiency, positively impacting our ability to service our customers. All renovations will be completed ahead of the season, and we’ll be ready to roll out the first trucks of Vidalias on 4/17.”
As the season continues, Shuman Farms will use its platforms to boost Vidalia onion visibility with its messaging, point-of-sale, and social media content for 2023. The grower hopes to inspire consumers to start their favorite recipes with Vidalia onions.
“We have also noticed that comfort foods with a healthy twist is a huge trending food topic for 2023,” continues John, providing more merchandising inspiration. “The health benefits of Vidalia onions and their flavor versatility make them the perfect item for any classic dish. Our most Googled recipe from our website is our Homemade Vidalia Onion Dressing, and we’re excited to share more healthy recipes with our consumers for every occasion.”
April 17 is just a few weeks away, so start getting those displays ready, retailers!
