By Clint Thompson
Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop was high in quality but low in quantity this year, according to one industry expert. With the weather challenges that growers experienced across the region, it’s not a surprise that production dropped this year.
“The crop’s not as big this year. What we have is good quality,” said Chris Tyson, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension area onion agent. “Eat more Vidalia onions.”
A major hurricane (Helene) last September and historic snowfall in January provided unexpected challenges for the state’s producers. Tyson reflected on the season as harvests came to a close across Southeast Georgia in late May.
“It’s definitely been a unique (season), though every year is unique. It started out with a hurricane on the front end, to a snowstorm in the middle and some big, hard rains; 10 to 12 inches of rain at the tail end of harvests. I know that no two seasons are alike, but this one definitely gave us a run for our money,” Tyson said.
“We got a big rain where we got anywhere from 10 to 12 inches of rain. That slowed us down in harvests. It also resulted in us not being able to get back in the field for several days or a week. Some of the onions were hurt from that rain, but growers tried to get out what they could.
“We are very thankful for what we have and the crop we’re able to come out with, especially considering everything we went through. That’s a testament to our growers, also; with their resilience.”