Douglas Fisher, who has served as New Jersey’s secretary of agriculture since he was appointed in 2009, is retiring from his role.

For 15 years, Vidalia Sweet Produce has earned a strong reputation as a trusted woman-owned farming corporation that specializes in the production, shipping and sales of Vidalia sweet onions, red and yellow onions.

The company is the only woman-owned production, sales, and shipping facility in the Vidalia region, certified as a WBE (Women Business Enterprise) by the National Women’s Business owners Council.  

For G&R Farms, the Vidalia onion category is of the utmost importance as the company has grown into a third-generation, family farm based on consumers love for the product.

In 1948, Raymond and Rubye-Jean Bland began a 50-acre farm in rural Georgia. Following his father’s passion, Raymond’s son Delbert envisioned the company becoming the preeminent grower, packer and shipper of the renowned Vidalia Onion.

Shuman Farms, located in Reidsville, GA, the heart of the Vidalia growing region in Southeast Georgia, has been in the Vidalia onion industry for two generations. 

The Vidalia onion is the most famous onion in the world, and it created the sweet onion category.

Coast Citrus Distributors, doing business as Coast Tropical, is enjoying a good start to its 2023 season and expects the remainder of the year to be just as fruitful.

“There’s been a lack of cold weather and overall, we’re happy,” said Isabel C. Freeland, vice president at the San Diego-based company. “It may not be as good as other years margin-wise; costs have gone up in California with new higher rates per hour, and freight has been extremely high, but we just keep trying to adapt and go forward.”