Generation Farms is renowned not only for growing outstanding produce, but also for its dedication to food safety and sustainability, and that should instill a sense of confidence in consumers as the all-important onion season begins.

The onion season got underway with Vidalia onions on April 16 with red, white and brown onions to follow, as Generation Farms harvests about 1,000 acres of high-quality onions.

“We’re seeing strong demand for onions during these unknown times,” said Lauren Dees, sales and marketing manager for the Vidalia, GA-based company.

“The onion category has remained strong because it has a long shelf life and it’s always been a key component for cooking in the home. If people are staying home and social distancing, they’re cooking a lot more, so the demand for onions has remained strong.”

Dees also noted the trend of strong retail sales as much of the nation is sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that sales are coming in waves, as shoppers buy lots of food during visits to stores in order to limit their outings, and that’s something the industry is adjusting to.

“Everything is unknown and we’re all learning all of this together,” she said, noting that things also change from crop to crop. “Moving forward we just don’t know if it’s going to stay the same or if it’s going to change. We’re all navigating these waters together.”

Generation Farms’ other key Georgia crop is watermelon, which it grows on 300 acres in the state and will start harvesting in June.

“With watermelons, we fall into the peak time so there’s strong demand and a strong market price,” Dees said.

Food safety is more important than ever right now, and Generation Farms’ efforts in safety include third-party auditing and certification under Global Food Safety Initiative inspection, following the standards set by the USFA National Organic Program, and a commitment to sustainability and traceability through innovation in equipment and technology.

Those principles are allowing Generation Farms to provide people with quality food at this crucial time.

“Right now, we’re focused on doing our part to fill the supply chain and provide a safe product for consumers,” Dees said.

She added that Georgia’s vast climate creates opportunities to grow lots of different types of produce.

“Georgia is very diverse in its produce offerings,” Dees said. “And as we find different things and we grow and expand the crops that we grow here, you’re going to see opportunities for us to provide consumers with a diversified portfolio of produce offerings.”

And as a company with a long family tradition, Generation Farms is set to continue its successful ways.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time,” Dees said. “And we’ve got key players, from the farms to the packing lines, and we’re just fortunate to be a family.”