Market Minute: Prepare for the season’s most sought-after onions

Mark your calendar for April 13. That’s when the celebrated Vidalia sweet onions start shipping. These famous onions will soon fill produce departments across the U.S., ushering in a season that runs from April through early September. I personally can’t wait to enjoy these premium Vidalias in my sandwiches and salads.

During spring, Vidalia onions represent roughly 40 percent of all onions grown in the U.S. This year’s crop promises outstanding quality and impressive sizes. With controlled-atmosphere storage, the harvest lasts all the way to Labor Day.

This season, growers have planted just over 10,000 acres of Vidalia onions in south Georgia. That’s a generous supply, perfect for featuring in ads and in-store promotions. Soon, shoppers will be taking them home to add robust flavor to their meals.

To maximize Vidalia onion sales, it’s essential to create bold, attention-grabbing displays. A small one-foot section hidden among other onions won’t do justice to their unique qualities or help them stand out.

Get creative and plan for a standout display, whether as an end cap or a free-standing feature in a prime location. When I was a produce director, our managers were experts at crafting eye-catching Vidalia onion presentations. If you want to move a lot of product, think big — customers will be eager to buy, whether they’re bagged or loose. Offering both options in your display ensures maximum sales appeal.

Remember to get together with your Vidalia onion supplier to plan some dramatic advertising promotions — and be smart by getting your orders in early. Be first in your marketplace to break with the new-crop Vidalia onions in your produce departments and your customers will love you for it.

This article originally ran on The Produce News.