Vidalia, GA; February 3, 2022—The Vidalia® Onion Committee (VOC) is currently seeking nominations to the Committee from producers in the industry The VOC elects a public member & public alternate every two years.
The VOC administers the federal marketing order locally and consists of eight producer members and their alternates and one public member and an alternate. The role of the VOC is to oversee the Vidalia onion marketing order and its role in carrying out research, marketing, and advertising on behalf of the industry.
The VOC encourages all interested members including minorities, women, and those with physical challenges to apply as they work toward building a diverse and representative membership. We are also especially interested in getting input from small business. Newly elected members will be seated in their new positions upon approval of U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Secretary of Agriculture.
7 CFR 955.20(c) The public member shall be a resident of the production area and shall have no direct financial interest in the commercial production, financing, buying, packing or marketing of Vidalia onions, except as a consumer, nor shall such person be a director, officer or employee of any firm so engaged.
Potential Committee Public member & Public Alternate must first be nominated. Nominations will be accepted from February 4th – February 18th . Please contact the Vidalia Onion Committee to give your nomination at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via phone at (912) 537-1918.
Bob Stafford, Manager of the VOC remarked, “The Committee members serve in a role that is critical in the success and management of the Vidalia Onion Committee. Members provide a voice on issues and concerns so we can build programs that meet the direct needs of our growers and see that their funds are well managed.”
About the Vidalia® Onion Committee
Because Vidalia® onions are sweetly unique, farmers united to seek legal protection for their crop and its name. Federal Marketing Order No. 955 was established in 1989, to stipulate where the crop can be grown and help with research and promotion of Vidalia® onions. The Vidalia® Onion Committee administers FMO No. 955 and authorizes production research, marketing research and development and marketing promotion programs. This federal program along with Georgia state laws that protect the Vidalia® trademark have provided a legal framework for the industry. So, you can try to grow a sweet onion elsewhere, but you cannot call it a “Vidalia®,” unless it is from Georgia! For more information, visit VidaliaOnion.org.
Press release by the Vidalia Onion Committee.
