Vidalia onion harvests are in full swing across South Georgia. It appears consumers will have their pick between medium and jumbo size onions, says Cliff Riner, crop production manager for G&R Farms in Glennville, Georgia.
“I think as an industry, from the onions I’ve seen and talked with other growers, everybody’s naturally pleased about the weather and the quality that we’re seeing,” Riner said. “I have heard of a few issues of mediums, which is not really a problem. We still sell as an industry a lot of mediums. Probably 15 to 20 years ago, it was a high jumbo market. But with consumer retailer packs and the way households eat, they don’t mind eating a medium now. It’s not as much of a burden as it would have been 20 years ago. But even on them the quality’s excellent.”
Medium size onions range from 2.25 inches to 3.25 inches in diameter. Jumbos start at about 3 to 3.25 inches in diameter.
The quality and quantity of this year’s crop is good so far. The dry weather has kept the onions disease free. Riner is still taking it one day, one field at a time, however.
“I tell people this, every field we get through with, it’s a big relief. We still have a lot of fields to get to so you’re real nervous about being too optimistic. We’re wanting to get there and every day it’s getting closer. I’ve been pleased with the results so far,” Riner said.