Atlanta, Ga. — Vidalia® onions will soon be popping up on menus across Georgia.
While chefs routinely use the famous Vidalia® onions raw or cooked in a variety of dishes from salads to desserts, a new icon makes it easier than ever for restaurant consumers to identify dishes that feature Georgia’s most exclusive and internationally renowned agricultural treasure. The black and white image consists of the outline of an onion surrounding the letters VO.
The new image, akin to a heart icon signaling low-cholesterol dining options, is made available by the Vidalia® Onion Committee and Georgia Department of Agriculture to restaurateurs who “Take the Vidalia® Onion Pledge” on the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) website. The roster of all participating restaurants will be published by the GRA and also shared with Georgia Tourism, which will promote those restaurants as part of culinary- and agri- tourism initiatives.
By taking the pledge, restaurateurs agree to only label onions as Vidalia® onions when they are authentic Vidalia® onions and no other type of onion. Taking the pledge does not prohibit use of any other onion varietals at the restaurant, only that an onion will never be labeled (with words and/or icon) as a Vidalia® onion if it is not.
“The icon draws attention to Vidalia onions and the creative ways chefs work with this Georgia Grown product,” said Karen Bremer, executive director of the GRA. “Whether diners are curious about Vidalia onions or already avid fans, the image gives subtle visual encouragement to try these dishes while creating a pathway to support local, seasonal foods when dining out. And by compelling consumers to sample these dishes, we can support local farmers and generate more revenue for our state, which will create more jobs. It's a win-win.”
“Our farmers work extremely hard year-round to produce Vidalia sweet onions for harvest in spring and summer,” said Wendy Brannen, executive director of the Vidalia® Onion Committee. “We love this program because this unique agricultural product indigenous only to Southeast Georgia is clearly identified as being special.”
Only grown in a 20-county area in the southeastern part of the state, Vidalia® onions are prized for their sweetness and lack of heat. The official state vegetable, they’re a Georgia Grown star.
About Vidalia® Onions
Vidalia® onions are the pioneer of sweet onions and Georgia’s official state vegetable. Grown only in the mild climate and unique soil surrounding Vidalia, Ga., they’re loved by chefs and home cooks throughout the world. Vidalia® onions are hand-planted and hand-harvested each year, with sweet, juicy bulbs available seasonally from late April to late August. Their mild, sweet taste makes Vidalia® onions more versatile than stronger onions. And these Georgia sweeties are a low-calorie, fat, cholesterol, and sodium-free way to get a healthy dose of Vitamin C. For more information, visit www.VidaliaOnion.org.
About the Vidalia® Onion Committee
Because Vidalia® onions are sweetly unique, farmers were forced to unite and seek legal protection of their crop and its name. Federal Marketing Order No. 955 was established in 1989 to stipulate how and where the crop can be grown and sold. The Vidalia® Onion Committee administers FMO No. 955 and authorizes production research, marketing research and development and marketing promotion programs. This federal protection reinforces Georgia state laws and the Vidalia® trademark. So, you can try to grow a sweet onion elsewhere, but you cannot call it a “Vidalia!” For more information, visit www.VidaliaOnion.org.
About the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA)
The GRA’s mission is to serve as the voice for Georgia’s Restaurants in Advocacy, Education and Awareness. The GRA is sanctioned by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) to operate Georgia’s only not-for-profit representing the state’s foodservice industry. From large chains to start-ups, the GRA helps make Georgia a better place for restaurants to do business and helps make restaurants better for Georgia. For more information, visit www.garestaurants.org.
Source: Vidalia® Onion Committee