Vidalia Onions, Vidalia Onion Farms, Vidalia Onion Recipes

Vidalia® Onion Facts

Sweet Vidalia Onions from Georgia

In 1986, Georgia's state legislature defined the 20-county production area as follows: All of these counties can grow and sell Vidalia Onions - Emanuel, Candler, Treutlen, Bulloch, Wheeler, Montgomery, Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, Telfair, Jeff Davis, Appling, and Bacon. Portions of the following counties can also grow and sell Vidalia Onions - Jenkins, Screven, Laurens, Dodge, Pierce, Wayne, and Long.

The Federal Marketing Order No. 955 was established in 1989 which extended the definition of Vidalia Onion to the Federal Level. This USDA program also aided in the establishment the Vidalia Onion Committee.

Under the term of Governor Joe Frank Harris and through the effort of state Representative Fisher Barfoot, the now nationally known Vidalia Onion was named Georgia’s official state vegetable in 1990.

In order to meet the growing demand for this unique vegetable, the Onion Committee's research team adapted technology from the apple industry and began utilizing Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage. This technology, which essentially puts the onions to sleep, prolongs their season until early fall without jeopardizing the sweet, unique Vidalia taste.

The Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame was created in 1991 by the Vidalia Onion Committee as a way to recognize the efforts of individuals who have been instrumental in the growth, distribution and awareness of this one of a kind crop.