G&R Farms celebrates 80 years
G&R Farms celebrates 80 years
As the calendar turns to August, one of the most exciting things at G&R Farms is the celebration of the company’s 80th anniversary.
“It’s a milestone that has given us the chance to reflect on our roots, our growth and the legacy our family has built over generations,” said Steven Shuman, general manager and vice president of sales for the Glennville, GA-based company. “It’s a powerful moment of nostalgia, but also a turning point as we look toward the future.”
Those at G&R are especially excited about a fresh rebrand that’s on the horizon.
“It’s more than just a new look — it’s a tribute to our heritage, evoking the heart and hard work that’s been poured into our fields since 1945,” Shuman said. “The new branding will honor where we came from while setting the tone for where we’re headed, continuing our commitment to quality, sustainability and innovation in farming.”
Peruvian sweet onions are a cornerstone of sweet onion program at G&R Farms and play a vital role in the company’s year-round supply strategy. When domestic seasons wind down, Peru allows the company to keep delivering the consistently mild, flavorful sweet onions customers expect, without interruption.
“We’ve been working with our Peruvian growers for over a decade now, and it’s a collaborative partnership that reflects our commitment to quality and innovation,” Shuman said. “With conditions mirroring the growing environment we have here in Georgia, we’re able to maintain the same high standards and sweet flavor profile that defines a G&R Farms onion, no matter the season.”
G&R Farms has projections to receive roughly 900 containers of Peru onions this upcoming season. The total number of containers received continues to grow each year by about 5 percent.
“In addition to the same qualities needed in any company to survive, G&R’s success is due to several other factors: generational knowledge, commodity expertise, seed and conservation trials, flavor storytelling, transparency, creative and vibrant in-store promotions, giving back by supporting FFA students’ ag education through Growing America’s Farmers,” Shuman said.
In the Peruvian-specific category, the company’s strength is in its incredibly close partnership with Peruvian partners.
“Our teams speak daily, share information, challenge each other and work together to produce the most delicious, sweet onions on the market,” Shuman said. “The sweet onion category has continued to evolve each year resulting in more sales of Peruvian sweet onion. We are currently planning for a continued 3-5 percent growth rate in this category over the next few years.”
One of G&R’s goals every year is to keep Vidalia onions available throughout the entire summer grilling season, and all signs point to the company delivering on that promise again this year.
“From backyard cookouts to holiday barbecues, shoppers can count on premium-quality sweet onion availability year-round with G&R Farms,” Shuman said.
The biggest opportunity for expanding the Peruvian sweet onion business is building on the growing demand for consistency and quality year-round.
“Shoppers have come to love Vidalia onions during their spring and summer season, and the Peruvian crop allows us to extend that flavor experience into the fall and winter months with a seamless transition,” Shuman said. “There’s tremendous room to grow by continuing to educate consumers on the versatility of sweet onions beyond grilling season — bringing them into comfort foods, holiday recipes and everyday cooking. On the retail side, there’s also an opportunity to strengthen the category with coordinated merchandising that positions Peruvian sweet onions as the natural continuation of the Vidalia season.”
Ultimately, for G&R, it comes down to delivering a consistent eating experience, telling the farm-to-table story behind the crop and working closely with its partners to keep sweet onions top-of-mind for shoppers all year long.
