“We’re looking forward discussing the upcoming Vidalia season and our promotional plans for the year,” said John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms.

Not only does SEPC provide an excellent platform for Shuman Farms to connect with retail partners, distributors and industry leaders to explore new opportunities and strengthen existing relationships, its participation underscores Shuman Farms’ dedication to supporting and growing the produce industry in the Southeast U.S., continuing to contribute to the economic vitality of the region.  

“As a leading voice in the sweet onion category, Shuman Farms is committed to helping our retailer partners drive consumption and produce department sales with innovative marketing and training resources,” Shuman said.

The company will be set up at booth No. 700, where it will bring Shuman Farms University to the show floor, showcasing how important education is to the industry and the sweet onion category. 

“Shuman Farms is in our fourth year of creating educational-focused initiatives that have included our Lunch & Learns, Vidalia 101 content and an interactive Vidalia Quiz — all designed to enhance produce team knowledge of the sweet onion category and the Vidalia onion itself,” Shuman said. “Our refreshed program for 2025 takes edutainment to the next level by making the content more accessible, engaging and fun.”

This is important, he noted, because when produce teams understand and are able to communicate the uniqueness of Vidalia onions, they will increase shopper interest and drive incremental sales during the season. 

That’s why the company has invested a number of efforts toward the power of education surrounding these in-demand sweet onions.

“Our revamped website and updated educational videos will make learning more interactive and engaging,” Shuman said. “Our new interactive quiz, with completion certificate, provides a fun but structured learning experience for produce team members — from store teams, to field merchandisers, to buyers and category managers.”

The booth will also be highlighting the company’s full suite of marketing support for the upcoming Vidalia season including custom in-store promotion, digital and social media engagement, cross-merchandising strategy and retailer educational tools. 

Additionally, Shuman Farms’ Healthy Family Project team is looking forward to the show as well.

“In addition to our annual reception thanking our partners, we’ll be embracing the show’s theme of ‘Produce Means Family’ and the importance of family meals at booth No. 605,” Shuman said. “Healthy Family Project understands the importance of family meals and their positive impact on children and teens. We’re excited to discuss how fresh produce plays a central role in family meals and how our industry can support this movement. However, not all families have access to healthy food, and we’ll be highlighting the impact of our programs to support organizations like Feeding America.”

To date, Healthy Family Project and its partners have raised more than $8 million and provided more than 22 million meals to families in need. 

“Both the Shuman Farms and Healthy Family Project teams are looking forward to Southern Exposure and look forward to connecting with our industry partners as we work together to drive awareness, education and fresh produce consumption,” Shuman said.