Shuman Farms to spotlight Peruvian sweet onions and NIL partnerships at Southern Innovations
Shuman Farms to spotlight Peruvian sweet onions and NIL partnerships at Southern Innovations
Headquartered in the center of the Vidalia growing region in Southeast Georgia, family-owned Shuman Farms has been a trusted name in the sweet onion industry for three generations.
At this year’s SEPC Southern Innovations show, the company plans to highlight its premium sweet onions from Peru and offer retailers a full tailgating experience.
“At Southern Innovations we’re excited to showcase our premium sweet onions from Peru and to help retailers plan high impact fall football/tailgating promotions,” said John Shuman, president and CEO of the company.
Shuman Farms will be located at booth No. 300, where the team will showcase merchandising opportunities for game day, announce its 2025 NIL athlete partners, University of Georgia linebacker CJ Allen and Georgia Southern University wide receiver Josh Dallas, and highlight how these partnerships connect with younger consumers.
“Our goals are to align on Q4 programs, share fresh shopper insights — especially Gen Z and young families — and demonstrate how RealSweet and Mr. Buck’s Farm Fresh premium sweet onions can drive incremental rings across produce and the total store,” Shuman said.
He emphasized the reliability of the company’s Peruvian sweet onion program as a point of innovation.
“Year after year, we deliver dependable quality and the same mild, sweet flavor shoppers expect from premium sweet onions,” Shuman said. “That reliability aligns perfectly with consumer trends toward versatile, healthy ingredients that fit both everyday meals and special occasions like tailgating.”
The NIL partnerships, he added, are a way to connect with younger households. “By connecting premium onions with game day recipes and authentic athlete storytelling, we’re inspiring young families and college fans alike to cook with RealSweet and Mr. Buck’s Farm Fresh,” Shuman said. “We’re watching Gen Z cooking at home, the rise of game day meal occasions and retailer demand for turnkey content. We expect robust dialogue on merchandising that bridges inspiration and conversion: demos, QR-to-recipe and cross-category tie-ins with meat, bakery, deli and center store.”
The company’s sales, marketing and operations teams will be present at the show and looking forward to connecting with friends and retail partners.
“These shows are always a great opportunity to strengthen relationships, share insights and plan for the season ahead,” Shuman said. “Category growth comes from collaboration — networking and meeting with retailers, foodservice and supplier partners making sure we are aligned on execution.”
As for what defines success at Southern Innovations, Shuman said it comes down to people.
“If we’ve had meaningful conversations with our retail partners, shared ideas that inspire and left feeling more connected to the industry and our friends here at SEPC, then it’s a winning day,” Shuman said. “The business will follow when those relationships are strong. As longstanding members and supporters of SEPC, with many from our team serving on boards and volunteering, these events feel like home. They give us the chance to connect with our retail partners in a more personal setting, share ideas and strengthen the relationships that drive our business forward.”
Shuman Farms is eager to keep momentum strong and believes introducing Allen and Dallas will do that. In addition to marketing, Shuman said the company remains focused on its economic and regional impact.
“Our goals are to continue telling the story of premium sweet onions from Peru — highlighting not only their consistent quality but also the positive impact they have on the economy of the Southeast through the Port of Savannah,” he said.
