Shuman Farms remains grounded in its Georgia roots and is dedicated to preserving its legacy of providing high-quality, sustainable and delicious sweet onions to consumers across the country.

Its legacy in the sweet onion industry began in Reidsville, GA in the mid-1980’s, when Buck Shuman grew his first crop of Vidalia sweet onions. 

Today, Shuman Farms is a third-generation, year-round grower/packer/shipper of sweet onions. 

Headquartered in the heart of the Vidalia growing region in the small town of Reidsville, Vidalia onions continue to be the cornerstone of Shuman’s operations. 

“We are proud of our role and history in the Vidalia sweet onion industry and look forward to continuing to drive awareness and consumption of Vidalia sweet onions for years to come,” said John Shuman, president & CEO of Shuman Farms. 

Shuman Farms is the Official Sweet Onion of the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Southern University Eagles. 

“These partnerships with top collegiate athletics programs in our home state have been a great way to raise brand awareness and inspire sweet onion consumption among sports fans, especially younger generations,” Shuman said.

As of late April, the 2026 Vidalia season has been off to a great start. 

“We have promotable volumes available of both our conventional and organic Vidalia onions, and quality looks good so far,” Shuman said. “We expect to ship Vidalia onions through at least Labor Day.”

He added Georgia, with its sandy soils and mild winters specific to the designated growing region, provides the perfect recipe for Vidalias’ signature sweetness. 

Shuman Farms is known for its RealSweet and Mr. Buck’s Farm Fresh brands, which help differentiate its onions in a competitive market.

“Eye-catching, clear and consistent branding is essential to setting our onions apart, but branding is only one piece of the puzzle,” Shuman said. “Building consumers’ trust takes time and consistency. Our commitment to product quality and customer service for our retail partners and their shoppers, along with maintaining strong, consistent branding at the shelf, have been the recipe for success for our RealSweet and Mr. Buck’s brands through the years. We strive to build brands that capture attention, inspire consumption and ensure loyalty.”

To help get the word out about this Vidalia season, the company has carefully planned promotions throughout the next few months to help retailers share the Vidalia story and create excitement for the seasonal offering. Shuman Farms is also preparing to celebrate its fourth annual “RealSweet Vidalia Onion Restaurant Week” May 15-24 at top restaurants throughout Georgia. 

Shuman Farms is known for its focus on community and giving back. The Shuman team regularly volunteers with food assistance programs in its local communities of Reidsville and Statesboro, as well as the Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal GA in Savannah. 

Additionally, Healthy Family Project, founded by John Shuman in 2002, has raised more than $8 million and donated more than 25 million meals since its inception. 

“We also sponsor Georgia DOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program, adopting a stretch of I-95 in Chatham County, GA. Through this partnership, we are able to contribute to keeping Georgia’s highways clean and beautiful for all to enjoy,” Shuman said. “We always treasure an opportunity to give back, whether it’s in our local southeast Georgia communities or partnering with our retail partners to lend a hand in the communities where our products are sold.”