Shuman Farms champions educational initiative
Shuman Farms champions educational initiative
Shuman Farms, a storied family business with deep roots in Georgia, has been a leading grower and shipper of Vidalia onions for three generations.
“The energy around the Vidalia season is always high, but this year feels especially exciting,” said John Shuman, president and CEO of the Reidsville, GA-based company. “We’re proud to continue elevating Vidalias as the Champagne of Onions — a one-of-a-kind product that can only be grown in 20 counties in Southeast Georgia.”
Shuman noted he’s also incredibly proud of the momentum behind Shuman Farms University, the company’s new educational initiative.
“It’s designed to bring our Georgia Grown roots to life, helping our retailer partners and their team members learn about Georgia’s state vegetable and how to translate that into category growth and incremental sales,” he said.
Georgia’s unique combination of sandy soil, seasonal rainfall and a mild climate creates ideal growing conditions for sweet onions, but more than that, Shuman noted, is that it’s the designated Vidalia growing region with the exact conditions needed to produce a true Vidalia onion.
“This agricultural identity is core to who we are and what we provide,” he said. “As a Georgia Grown leader, we’re proud to bring this special product to market.”
As of the third week of April, the company is seeing excellent quality as it heads into harvest.
“Weather conditions this year have been challenging at times but we’re anticipating promotable volumes with the flavor profile and appearance that shoppers love,” Shuman said. “It’s shaping up to be a great season to lean into the Vidalia story at retail.”
In the year ahead, Shuman Farms’ focus is on strengthening the sweet onion category by providing more than just a premium product.
“We’re investing in tools that help our customers succeed — like Shuman Farms University, which gives produce teams the knowledge and resources to better educate shoppers and drive sales,” Shuman said. “Growth also comes from telling the story of Georgia agriculture in new, engaging ways that resonate with today’s consumer.”
Sustainability, transparency and consumer engagement continue to be big themes around the company.
“Shoppers want to know where their food comes from, and they expect quality and a story behind it. That’s where our Vidalia onions shine,” Shuman said. “Being a Georgia-based company, community engagement is at the heart of what we do. Whether it’s through local partnerships, or giving back events in our community, we believe in investing in the place that makes our product possible.”
As a third-generation family business, that legacy is reflected in Shuman Farms’ culture.
“Our four foundational pillars shape everything we do — Serve, Sustain, Innovate and Give Back,” Shuman said. “Georgia’s strong sense of community, pride in agriculture and Southern hospitality influence how we operate every day. We believe in hard work, integrity, and relationships that last. That culture creates a team that’s passionate about our purpose and dedicated to delivering for our customers.”
