Best known as a world leader in the sweet onion category and a top producer of Vidalia onions, Bland Farms LLC of Glennville, GA, has continued to add to its product lineup and made a major personnel announcement leading up to its appearance at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure trade show in Orlando, FL, Feb. 28 to March 2.

Having been involved in the business since an early age, Troy Bland, formerly director of quality control and procurement, has been promoted to director of operations. The move represents a significant increase in Bland’s responsibilities.

Bland had basically filled the position on an interim basis for more than a year now, overseeing all aspects of the company’s operations. It is a critical position for any growers-shipper, but especially for an operation as large as Bland Farms, which is an annual leader in production of Vidalia onions and grows and sources sweet onions year-round from areas like Peru, New York and Washington state.

Bland Farms Chief Executive Officer Bryce Edmonson said Troy Bland’s promotion was “a natural progression for him,” noting that Bland “grew up on the farm and has taken great interest in the family business over the years, which has naturally groomed him for his new role.

“Troy has grown up in the business and has developed a deep understanding of all aspects of the company’s operations. We welcome his promotion to director of operations and look forward to his continued contributions to the company,” Edmonson said.

Meanwhile, Bland Farms will no doubt turn some heads at Southern Exposure with a focus on its new sweet potato program. Bland has been an industry leader in establishing the sweet onion category and in recent years has diversified that program to include creation of its sister company, the successful Vidalia Brands line of related dips, dressings, condiments, toppings, snack items and value-added onion products.

Now Bland is adding sweet potatoes to the mix.

The company has dabbled in sweet potatoes in the past. Those first experimental forays into the category convinced leadership that the time is right for the company to expand from its position as strictly a grower, packer and shipper of sweet onions and sweet onion products and will officially launch its sweet potato program at Southern Exposure.

Marketing Director Sarah Seebran said the Southern Exposure launch is a “can’t miss” proposition given the show’s relaxed atmosphere and extraordinarily high number of attending produce buyers.

“Southern Exposure is one of the best in our opinion because it’s a smaller, more intimate show, and buyers seem to show up,” Seebran said. “The people you need and want to see are always there and they really enjoy the show, which is one of the main reasons why we decided it was the perfect place to showcase our sweet potato plans.”

Sweet onions will still rule the roost at Bland, and Vidalia will still stand as the company’s crown jewel. At Southern Exposure, Bland Farms will highlight its 2014 sweet onion options, from the fresh Vidalia deal that will begin in mid-April to two new Vidalia Brands condiments — Sweet Onion Hibachi White Sauce and Sweet Onion Caesar Dressing — along with two all-new salty snack items — Vidalia Sweet Onion Kettle Chips and Barbecue Sweet Onion Kettle Chips. All will be featured for sampling in the company’s booth — 903 — at the show.