Sweet History
Beneath the sun-soaked soil of Southeast Georgia, something extraordinary took root. What started as a simple crop grew into one of the most beloved ingredients in kitchens across the country. Known for its sweetness, its story is just as rich.
1930s
During the Great Depression, farmers had high hopes of onions being new cash crop. Imagine their surprise when what grew was not an instant money-maker but a strange new, sweet tasting onion.
1940s
The state built a farmers’ market central to Macon, Augusta and Savannah. Word of “those sweet onions from Vidalia” began to spread throughout the state, and a name was born. Vidalia onions began showing up in Piggly Wiggly and A&M stores across the region.
1960s
Acreage grew steadily over the next twenty years. Distribution expanded and so did name recognition.
1978
The first Vidalia onion festival was held in Vidalia, GA.
1986
Today
A Taste Like No Other
Vidalias can only be grown in 20 counties outlined by the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986. The unique combination of sandy soil, low sulfur, and Georgia sunshine creates the unmistakably sweet flavor that can’t be found anywhere else.
