Vidalia, GA — Since the State of Georgia owns the trademark to the famous Vidalia onion, it only makes sense that the state university system — and especially the land-grant University of Georgia — would take an active role in promoting and promulgating that crop. UGA’s most recent innovation in that arena involves the establishment of two new awards for Vidalia onion growers, both presented at the annual Vidalia Onion Awards Banquet held here Feb. 6

The UGA Extension Service awarded the honors based on onion samples submitted to the UGA Crop Quality Laboratory and evaluated through the UGA Food Science and Technology Department’s sensory laboratory.

The awards recognized the grower with the sweetest sample and the grower who submitted the most samples. John Shuman of Shuman Produce in Reidsville, GA, was recognized as the contest winner and Bland Farms LLC of Glennville, GA, was recognized for the most samples submitted.

“We began these awards in the 2015 crop year, so we could spread knowledge to producers on what we have learned from our recent research. Our crop quality lab has developed some new tools that will hopefully impact our entire industry in the near future,” said Cliff Riner, UGA Vidalia onion area extension agent. “Samples submitted to the county extension offices help us learn more, and they provide growers more information about their crop. We are learning a lot through our research and extension efforts at UGA, and the entire Vidalia industry should be commended on their support of the University of Georgia.”

The Vidalia Onion Committee administers the federal marketing order that authorizes production research, marketing research and development and marketing promotion programs for Vidalia onions. This federal program along with Georgia state laws that protect the Vidalia trademark have provided a legal framework for the industry.

“UGA is putting a lot of research and development behind the Vidalia sweet onion, it’s one of the key vegetables in our state and they’re very interested in helping us promote it and put out the best product we possibly can and that’s what this is about,” John Shuman said. “We’re very pleased and happy and honored to receive this award for 2015.”

Shuman is quick to note he does not expect to win the title every year.

“We’re taking varieties and a growing region that’s very conducive to producing what is considered the sweetest onion in the world, and when you say that, Mother Nature and rainfall and heat and cold are all factors and influence your inputs and the flavor of the product. How you manage that, we’re learning ever year — what you’ve got in southeast Georgia is about two generations of experience, so we’ve learned a lot and come a long way. But working with UGA and cooperating with them, we’re trying to continue to grow as an industry.”