Vidalia Sweet Onion Facts - Morris Farms (2024)

FAQs

What are some facts about Vidalia onions? ›

Unique Conditions. Cultivated for more than 80 years by growers, the Vidalia Onion is considered America's favorite sweet onion. Its distinctive taste is derived from the combination of weather, water and soil uniquely found within 20 South Georgia counties.

The key to preserving Vidalias is to keep them cool, dry, and separated. When stored properly, our Vidalias can last as long as 1-2 months on the counter, or 3-6 months when placed into refrigerator veggie bin (mentioned below).

The Vidalias are named after the town they are grown in, Vidalia, Georgia. The sweet flavor is due to the low amount of sulfur in the soil in which the onions are grown. It can be called a Vidalia only if it's grown in one of 20 counties designated by the the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986.

Most onions contain about 5 percent sugar, while Vidalias contain a whopping 12 percent. That, combined with the lack of sulfur from Vidalia soil, makes them sweeter and milder than other onions on the market.

Vidalia onions are a particularly mild yellow onion grown around Vidalia, Georgia. Crunchy and sweet, they're excellent served raw in salads and salsas.

Onions grow in over 20 states and California, Oregon and Washington are the top producing states. Onions contain fiber and vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. Onions are part of the allium family with scallions and leeks. When onions are cut, a compound is released and turns to sulfuric acid in the air.

Once the bulbs reach maturity, the scapes and leaves will start to turn yellow and fall over. This means the onions are ready for harvest. Depending on the variety, the onions might be ready anywhere from 90 to 110 days after planting.

Vidalia onions are available for a limited time each year between April through early September. As America's favorite sweet onion, many look forward to this time of year. The pack date is determined by soil and weather conditions during the growing season, contributing to high quality Vidalia onions.

Vidalia onions are grown over a long season. Growers begin growing transplants in the fall and aren't finished with the crop until late spring the following year. If you didn't start your seed last fall, don't worry.

How Long Do Onions Last? According to the National Onion Association, whole onions will last an average of one to three months if you store them properly. 1 Cut onions on the other hand, only last one to two weeks. In the freezer, chopped onions can last about eight months.

Who invented Vidalia Onions? ›

The Vidalia sweet onion, declared the official state vegetable in 1990, is perhaps the greatest agricultural success story in Georgia's history. Mose Coleman, a Toombs County farmer, is believed to have been the first grower of the now popular commodity.

Want Vidalia Onions delivered to your door? The thirteen counties include: Toombs (where we're located), Tattnall, Treutlen, Bacon, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Appling, Jeff Davis, Wheeler, Telfair, Montgomery, & Emanuel. And the portions of these seven counties: Laurens, Screven, Jenkins, Wayne, Dodge, Long, & Pierce.

Sweet Onions

Vidalia, Walla Walla, Bermuda—turns out that these are all different kinds of sweet onion. These guys tend to be a little larger and flatter than other varieties, and also sweeter (duh).

Yellow onions make up more than 75% of the world's production of onions. The official state vegetable of Georgia is the Vidalia onion. The official state vegetable of Texas is the Texas Sweet onion. In Blue Hill, Nebraska, no female wearing a “hat that would scare a timid person” can be seen eating onions in public.

Vidalias are “short day” onions, or onion plants that grow during the months of fewer daylight hours. A Vidalia plant after around 30 days of growth is slightly smaller than a pencil. A full-size onion bulb can reach the size of a softball.

The Vidalia sweet onion, declared the official state vegetable in 1990, is perhaps the greatest agricultural success story in Georgia's history. Mose Coleman, a Toombs County farmer, is believed to have been the first grower of the now popular commodity.