Ethnic cultures on the forefront of increased fruit and vegetable consumption
It’s undeniable — retail shelf space allotment is giving way to increases in tropical fruits and vegetables. Produce departments now overflow with papayas, pineapples, mangos and limes, as only a few examples. And it is not only ethnic cultures that are enjoying these items today. Traditional U.S. consumers continually learn more about tropical items and how to use them in their own kitchens.
UGA Vidalia research center works hand-in-hand with growers
The Vidalia onion is a registered trademark of the state of Georgia. It is a unique product, one that can only be grown in a small region of southeast Georgia.
The economic impact is hard to measure — these jobs can’t be exported — but it is highly significant up- and downstream in the 20–county area where Vidalia onions are grown.
Faith-based approach to business has kept Ray Farms in the Vidalia game for more than 40 years
Ray Farms Inc. of Glennville, GA, has been in the Vidalia onion deal for more than 40 years, and the family-owned company has always done things one way — the Christian way.
Ray brings a faith-first approach to every business endeavor and so far that has worked out perfectly.
In 2013, Ray Farms was selected by its peers as the Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year, so it is obvious the company is taking care of business at the same time it is giving credit to where it’s due.
‘Next-level’ planning, new capacity have G&R Farms ready for banner Vidalia season
After 70 years in the Vidalia onion deal, G&R Farms in Glennville, GA, changed things up during the offseason.
G&R always makes some improvements in the offseason but the last few months have represented a significant change.
Storage and drying capacity have been increased dramatically, and for the second season in a row new boxing and bagging lines were added. But more importantly, the company brought a next-level approach to planning its Vidalia season.
Bland Farms ready to roll into season with a thriving crop of Vidalia onions
Atypically warm weather and heavy rain during planting made for a dicey start to the Vidalia onion season. But, said Delbert Bland of Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, “the crop woke up about a month ago and they are beautiful right now.”
“We did have a difficult time when we first set out because it was so wet and so hot, unusually warm,” Bland said. “Now it looks like we should have a very good crop of onions at this point. So we’re excited about it. The sweet onion market is strong and it should be pretty strong going right into Vidalia so that’ll be great.”
LG Herndon Jr. Farms doubles down on organics
LG Herndon Jr. Farms of Lyons, GA, is always a major player in the Vidalia onion deal — now the company is making moves to be a first-choice provider of organic Vidalias and other items from its product line.
Vidalia season shaping up as ‘surprisingly’ normal for Roberson Onion Co.
Steve Roberson of Roberson Onion Co. in Hazlehurst, GA, is expecting a “normal” Vidalia season, which is a good thing — he and the rest of the area growers and shippers have almost forgotten what normal is.
“We’ve got a good, normal crop, but it’s hard to say which is normal now: what we’ve experienced the last three years or the previous five before that,” Roberson said.
Catania Worldwide and Stellar Distributing raising their stakes in limes this year
Catania Worldwide and Stellar Distributing expect to ship 40 percent more limes this year.
Splendid Products LLC changes hands but marches on
On Jan. 1, 2016, Splendid Products LLC, Burlingame, CA, changed its name and its ownership while celebrating its 40th anniversary as a going concern in the fresh produce industry, specializing in the mango business.