Generation Farms’ Vidalia crop to be one for the ages
Generation Farms’ Vidalia crop to be one for the ages
The Vidalia onion crop coming out of the fields right now is officially the first for Generation Farms, but the families behind that new entity have been growing Vidalias for three generations. Early harvest results suggest Generation Farms will debut with a bang.
“I’m generation number three in this deal and in the last 30 years, if Mother Nature continues to cooperate the way she has, we’re looking at one of our top five Vidalia crops of the last 30 years,” said Vince Stanley of the former Stanley Farms, now one of two family-owned organizations that have partnered to form Generation Farms.
Generation Farms came about recently when two farming families in the Deep South representing six generations of experience across a wide swath of produce categories joined forces to operate as Generation Farms, headquartered in Lake Park, GA. Outside ownership purchased both organizations in recent years and recently the decision was made to combine resources and operate as a single entity.
Stanley Farms in Vidalia, GA, has long been known as a top producer of Vidalia onions, watermelon, cucumber, squash and row crops. Coggins Farms in Lake Park enjoys a similar reputation as a grower of carrots, sweet potatoes, edamame, peppers, leafy vegetables and blueberries.
Stanley gives much credit for the early success of this year’s Vidalia crop to the new team that is in place. “One of the reasons this year’s crop looks so good is the new infrastructure, a great agronomy team and farm managers and other support that gives us the ability to bring our very best out of the fields,” Stanley said.
Stanley said Generation Farms “will definitely be ready for opening day April 25, we are already at full volume with a crop that has excellent quality and early season sizing tending toward larger onions. April 25 will start at a full sprint.”
Stanley believes the early Vidalia success is indicative of what’s to come from Generation Farms.
