Award-winning Vidalia grower partners with OSO Sweet onions for sixth season

As OSO Sweet Onions prepares to launch its Vidalia sweet onion program, OSO Sweet Onions is thrilled to celebrate its very own Herschel Durrence, named 2024 Grower of the Year by the Vidalia Onion Committee.

Durrence’s agricultural journey exemplifies the dedication and passion that makes OSO Sweet onions truly exceptional. His story is deeply rooted in three generations of farming excellence in Mendes, GA, where he continues to farm.

Durrence began growing onions in 2019 under an exclusive marketing agreement with Michael Cutler, a well-recognized name in the onion industry. In 2022, the two joined forces to acquire a packing facility in Claxton, GA, MMH Packing LLC, which produced over 31 million pounds of onions during the 2024 season. Durrence and Cutler have a strong partnership, founded on their collaboration during the Vidalia season and beyond. OSO Sweet Onions and MMH Packing offer year-round sweet onions across the United States.

The Cutler family has been in the produce business for over 60 years, beginning primarily as a marketing and distribution company, and evolving to include multiple company owned growing and packing operations across the country. Now, with the fourth generation stepping up to the plate to continue the family’s legacy, they look forward to many more successful years of partnership with Durrence and expanding the OSO Sweet label into additional commodities.

“Growing is my passion, and my partnership with the Cutler family and OSO Sweet Onions delivers the quality pack that makes us all proud,” said Durrence. “At MMH Packing and OSO Sweet Onions, we are committed to offering a finished product that represents the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”

With an eye toward continued growth, the MMH facility will be expanding in 2025, adding more cooling and drying rooms to enhance quality and efficiency. This will significantly increase their capacity to store, pack, cool and ship onions.

OSO Sweet is more than just an onion producer – it is a dedicated family of growers, packers and marketers committed to delivering the sweetest, highest-quality onions to your table. Durrence’s dedication to quality, innovation and community support represents everything the OSO Sweet team strives for.