Vidalia onion season officially begins with pack date

LYONS, Ga. (WTOC) -Georgia’s Vidalia onions are rolling out to stores across the state and nationwide as the official pack date marks the start of the season.

Aries Haygood, president of A&M Farms in Lyons, said the day brings both excitement and stress.

“It’s always an exciting time. A little stressful trying to get ready for it,” Haygood said.

Haygood and his team have been working since September, planting, growing and spending long nights in the fields to prepare this year’s crop.

“We started at 8 o’clock this morning. And believe it or not, didn’t have any hiccups. So I tip my hat to the crew in the packing shed that they were prepared, they were ready to go,” Haygood said.

Vidalia onions are known for their signature sweetness and crisp bite, which comes from the unique soil they’re grown in.

“The soil that we have is more of a sandy loam. It’s got some mixture of Tifton soil with sand in it,” Haygood said.

That blend allows nutrients to flow more easily to the roots, giving Vidalia onions their distinct flavor, Haygood said.

Georgia’s drought conditions and winter freezes created extra challenges for farmers this season.

“Long hours in the field, uh, it’s long hours at night, just, you know, checking pivots, making sure that everything’s running right,” Haygood said.

The Vidalia Onion Festival kicks off April 23.