Q&A: Georgia’s Vidalia Onion Committee interim executive director on the $150M industry & her favorite recipe
A Vidalia onion field in Georgia. (Photo courtesy of the Vidalia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Georgia takes pride in its Vidalia onions, a flavorful and cherished crop that has become synonymous with the region. A beloved culinary treasure, the Vidalia onion captivates the hearts of foodies, chefs and Georgians alike.
As a cornerstone of Georgia's economy, this onion varietal flourishes across roughly 12,000 dedicated acres. Each year, growers diligently pack and ship a whopping 200 million pounds of Vidalias, injecting over $150 million in farm gate value (the market value minus the selling costs) into the state's financial landscape.
This year, get ready to savor the sweetness as the eagerly-awaited pack date rolls around on April 17. Determined by the Georgia Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Vidalia Onion Committee, this date marks the official kickoff for packing and shipping Vidalias to retailers.
At the heart of this thriving, intriguing industry is the Vidalia Onion Committee, a membership organization that ensures the promotion, research, and high standards of Vidalia onions are maintained. One of the key players in this endeavor is Chelsea Blaxton Page, the interim executive director of the committee.
Vidalia onions are grown in a designated region in Georgia, which encompasses 13 full counties and parts of seven others. It is not possible for a grower from Texas or any other state outside of the designated region in Georgia to label their sweet onions as "Vidalia" onions, even if they were to become members of the committee.
State Affairs had the opportunity to sit down with Blaxton Page — who has been with the committee for six years, mainly working on “the compliance side of things” — to discuss her background, the crucial role the committee plays in supporting and regulating the industry and the future prospects of Vidalia onions in Georgia.
The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
So, for an onion to be labeled a Vidalia onion, they need to pay the Vidalia Onion Committee?
For Vidalia onion growers to label their onions Vidalia onions, they have to pay into our committee. … For every 40 pounds that the grower sells, they have to pay into the committee 13 cents. … So I just make sure they're turning in the correct amount of money. That funds our entire program. First, they have to register with the State of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Once they've registered, they pass that information along to us. And that's how we know there's a new grower..
We have a research center with the University of Georgia. And when these seed companies come up with these new varieties, they have to be studied at our research center for three consecutive years before the growers can grow that type of seed. So we have a list. Every year, there are some added, there are some taken off. And for it [the onion] to be qualified as a variety, it has to be an approved variety. You can't just go to Lowe's and buy sweet onion and call it a Vidalia onion. It has to be registered with the State of Georgia and it has to be an approved variety.
What do you guys do with the money you get? Where does it go? Does the government provide any funds?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees our programs. [However,] we don't [receive funding from the USDA] unless it's through a grant, like a specialty crop block grant. Most of the things we do are funded through the assessments that are collected. [From the money we get] we fund the marketing. Every year, that's $300-and-some-thousand dollars. We fund the research, which is normally around $250-ish [thousand.]
How does the Vidalia onion industry impact Georgia's economy as a whole? Is there any competition with Georgia’s Vidalia onion industry, like from Texas, which also grows sweet onions?
Farm gate value, the last time I looked, it was $150 million. So it brings a lot of money into our state. [Texas’s growing] season is not the same time as ours. We don't really see ourselves in competition with anyone. We just focus on [ourselves.]
The “Vidalia” name is copyrighted and the Vidalia Onion Committee is quite strict in enforcing it. Can you elaborate on the importance of the name and the measures taken to protect its integrity?
Actually, the State of Georgia owns the name “Vidalia” onion. We obviously monitor it, but we do that so there can't be [knock off] onions grown in California. And then they take from our popularity and try to use their onion as a Vidalia onion and label it as that, which is illegal. There are fines that come along with that. So if someone calls in and says there's a grocery store in California, and says Vidalia onions are grown in California, that complaint comes to me. And then I forward that on to the State of Georgia.
Can you share your favorite Vidalia onion recipe with us?
Oh, gosh, there's so many. I love a good Vidalia onion ring. At the first of the spring, everybody's outside grilling burgers, hot dogs, onion rings, or a Vidalia onion dip. There's plenty.
Can you tell us about any Vidalia onion-related events or festivals in Georgia that help to promote the industry and engage with the community?
So every year, the city of Vidalia puts on the Vidalia Onion Festival, and this year it's actually going to be [April 20-23]. We always have an onion-eating contest, obviously. We have a recipe contest. This year, there's going to be three nights of concerts. We'll have a street dance. We have arts and crafts. There's a number of fun things to do during that time. … We have visitors from all over the country. We had over 30,000 visitors last year. That's not including the people that are from our area. That's just from other cities.
How do you envision the future of the Vidalia onion industry in the next 5 to 10 years?
I don't see it changing a whole lot. I mean, other than the next generation, really. Several [farmers] are multigenerational farmers. We do have a few that are first-generation farmers and it's always neat to see because it is a tough industry. If you can last a few years, you've made it in but the majority of the growers are generational growers. Vidalia onions are pretty sustainable.
The initial seed is planted by a tracker. From there on, everything's done by hand. So after the initial seed is planted, the plant grows, and then we transplant those plants to another field. Then when it's time to harvest those onions, the digger goes under the roots and pulls them up. We have H-2A workers who come in and cut the tops and bottom. Then [the onions] go into the packing facility and then into the box.
Rohan Movva is State Affairs’ intern writer in Georgia. A lifelong native of the Peach State, he’s proudly rooted in Georgia’s rich culture and charm.
Do you have a favorite Vidalia onion recipe? Send it to us at [email protected] for a chance to be included in our weekly newsletter!
Twitter @STATEAFFAIRSGA
Facebook @STATEAFFAIRSUS
Instagram @STATEAFFAIRSGA
LinkedIn @STATEAFFAIRS
Header image: A Vidalia onion field in Georgia. (Photo courtesy of the Vidalia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Read this story for free.
Create AccountRead this story for free
By submitting your information, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Judicial circuits get $15 million more to pare down big case backlogs
Georgia courts are getting a $15 million injection to help combat case backlogs accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will be used to update courtrooms with new audio-visual equipment, cameras, recording devices and other technology.
Nearly half of Georgia’s 50 judicial circuits are getting the new round of money, the second and final round of federal American Rescue Act (ARPA) grants slated to be distributed this year. Two of the 24 circuits awarded grants – Flint and Pataula – are first-time recipients. The rest of the money is going to circuits that applied and were approved for more money.
What’s happening
“The bulk of this round of distributions is to modernize courtrooms and things like that,” Bruce Shaw, a spokesman for the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts, told State Affairs.
For example, according to their backlog response plans, 21 circuits plan to use the money to add newer audio-visual equipment. Approved as a new eligible expenditure by the committee starting this award cycle, over $12 million was requested and awarded to update audio-visual equipment.
Requests also included money for temporary personnel such as senior judges, judges to serve by designation, court clerks, prosecutors, security, investigators, victim support staff and court reporters. There were also requests for supplies, personnel education and training as well as money to rent temporary space to hold court.
“We look forward to the support and efficiencies the audio-visual equipment modernization will provide to move cases faster and without technical delays,” said Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs, chairman of the Judicial Committee.
Why It Matters
Between March 2020 and June 2021, Georgia’s judiciary system operated under a statewide Judicial Emergency Order that placed limits on court operations to protect the health and safety of people working or coming into court during the pandemic. That led to a backlog of criminal and civil cases, especially those requiring jury trials to resolve.
In October 2021, Gov. Brian Kemp allocated $110 million in ARPA money to the state’s judicial branch to deal with the backlog, especially serious violent felonies.
The Judicial Council is administering $96 million of that money to eligible courts, prosecutors and related agencies. The remaining $14 million in ARPA money went to the Georgia Public Defender Council for grants to public defenders.
With this latest round of awards, 45 of Georgia’s 50 judicial circuits will have received grants since the program began on Jan. 1 , 2022.
Challenges still persist. In addition to the backlog of cases, Boggs said there’s a shortage of attorneys during his inaugural State of the Judiciary address in March. And some courts are in need of court reporters.
In addition to dealing with serious felony cases, COVID and court backlogs tied up many civil cases. For example, Atlantans Antonio Fleetwood’s and Lakiela Edwards’ wedding plans were on hold for nearly two years. The couple finally tied the knot in a special Valentine’s Day ceremony at the Fulton County Probate Court.
How successful has the ARPA program been in helping reduce the backlog in Georgia’s 50 judicial circuits? That’s hard to say. There is no statewide clearinghouse, Shaw said, that would give a clear picture of the progress. Or lack of it.
“It’s going to be different in each circuit,” he said. “So a statewide average would be difficult to come by right now.”
State Affairs checked in with Georgia’s 10th Judicial District, which handles civil and domestic cases for 21 counties in northeast Georgia. It has seven circuits and is the third-largest district in the state.
In the first few months of this year, the Augusta Judicial Circuit, the 10th District’s largest circuit, has seen its pending serious violent felonies drop by 37%, District Administrator Tracy J. BeMent told State Affairs.
Alcovy, another circuit in his district, “has done extremely well in prioritizing serious, violent felony trials this past year and has worked down their [cases] quite a bit,” BeMent said.
As of last August, the latest data available, “Alcovy had cleared out 54 serious felonies and was on track to complete almost 49 trial weeks for 2022 amongst their five judges,” Bement added.
In the Toombs circuit, clearance rates are low but they’re prioritizing backlog cases, BeMent said. The Western circuit in Athens continues to have a backlog “as they have a number of cases that have yet to be indicted,” he said.
What’s Next?
More work remains to be done.
“The challenge continues to be making sure we have appropriate staff and that we’re fully staffed and that that staff is trained and ready to go,” BeMent said.
The ARPA money has helped add more personnel but it takes time for them to get up to speed, he noted.
So far, the district has received about $8 million in ARPA money, BeMent said, with another $3 million coming from this latest round of ARPA distributions.
Meanwhile, former President Jimmy Carter recognized The Judicial Council/AOC’s 50th anniversary this year in a Jan. 25 letter. The council was formed while Carter was Georgia governor. The ailing 39th president entered hospice on Feb. 17.
“Now the challenge is considering what is needed from all of you for the next 50 years,” Carter, 98, said in the letter. “What do future generations of judges, lawyers and citizenry need from their judicial branch? What does improving justice look like in the next decade? These are no small questions, but ones I know you will meet with the same spirit that has guided you through the past half-century.”
Have questions, comments or tips? Contact Tammy Joyner on Twitter @lvjoyner or at [email protected].
Twitter @StateAffairsGA
Facebook @stateaffairsUS
Instagram@stateaffairsGA
LinkedIn @stateaffairs
Top image: Inside the Nathan Deal Judicial Center in Atlanta (Credit: Judge Stephen Dillard)
$69.4 billion farm-to-table pipeline: ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu’
Tammy Joyner and photographer Brandon Franklin hit the road with the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) for the Black farms tour. There were so many great pictures, we decided to share the tour with you. Enjoy! Georgia Legislative Black Caucus members at Bugg Farm, Pine Mountain, GA. (Credit: Brandon Franklin) And check out our Q&A with …
Q&A: Even the Energizer Bunny is no match for Carl Gilliard
State Rep. Carl Gilliard has been running at a fast clip for nearly four decades, juggling a ministry, making music and movies, writing books, feeding the hungry, hosting talk shows and performing community activism. As a teenager, Gilliard founded a local rap group in Savannah to fight gun violence. By the time he was a …
A default on the country’s debt could cause ‘real and lasting’ damage
The nation’s politicians are considering a voluntary default on the country’s debt. Yes, “voluntary.” The nation’s elected leaders in Congress and the White House could end this today if they wanted. Unfortunately, they are choosing to engage in political brinkmanship in negotiations over the debt ceiling, potentially defaulting on the nation’s debt.
In a straightforward sense, the debt ceiling is created by enacting legislation in which Congress temporarily limits the degree to which federal government expenditures can exceed tax revenue. The shortfall is covered by issuing treasury bills, notes and bonds. On an annual basis, the difference is referred to as the deficit, while the accumulation of the yearly deficit is referred to as the national debt, which is now $31.5 trillion. It fundamentally means that the government needs to take in more tax revenue to pay its bills. The first debt ceiling was created by Congress in 1917, so this is a familiar thing.
The general timing of when the debt ceiling is hit can be forecasted with relatively high accuracy, so this problem is unsurprising. Congress had months and months to address this but instead chose to act like children pretending that some inevitable outcome and day of reckoning for irresponsible behavior is now somehow a surprise. The Treasury Department began using “extraordinary measures” back in January when the usual and customary flow of tax revenue was insufficient to pay the bills. The Treasury Department has some ability to create months of budgetary wiggle room through fiscal creativeness that mostly boils down to suspending the reinvestment of revenue generated in some federal government pension or caretaker accounts.
That wiggle room is now gone. The so-called X-date, when even the extraordinary measures fail to cover the bills coming due, is now estimated to be June 1. This date has been moved forward several months because tax revenue is running about 10% below that of the previous fiscal year. The reason is mainly attributable to the slowdown in capital gains tax revenue from realized gains in the stock and housing markets.
Should our elected representatives choose to voluntarily default on the nation’s debt because of their unwillingness to compromise on political dogma in the negotiations over the debt ceiling, well, let’s say bad things will happen. Extraordinarily bad things. Global financial markets will be shaken to their core. The interest rate on the 90-day Treasury bill is referred to as the risk-free rate of return because, under normal circumstances, the government will not go out of business in the next three months. A vast array of domestic and global interest rates is benchmarked to the risk-free rate of return established by the interest rate on short-term U.S. government debt. When that rate is no longer risk-free, everyone will pay higher interest rates on all borrowings, including credit cards, auto loans, mortgage rates, and multi-billion dollar capital investments like those in Georgia’s budding electric vehicle industry.
At a minimum, the federal government would need to decide which bills coming due would be paid, thereby creating a class of winners and losers regarding who gets paid and when. Fundamentally, the tradeoff is between trying to calm financial markets by paying the interest due on debt versus mitigating the severity of the default-induced recession. The optics are not good if Treasury makes winners out of bondholders, and 25% of that debt is held overseas, and makes losers out of older people relying on their Social Security payment.
In the long run, when a government defaults on its debt, it faces much higher interest rates in the future when borrowing again in global capital markets. Greece in 2012 and 2015 is a case in point. When Greece effectively defaulted, investors demanded higher interest rates to compensate for the increased risk on Greek bonds. The 10-year rate on Greek bonds skyrocketed to 35% from about 4% and remained elevated for eight to nine years.
Hopefully, our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., will acknowledge the real and lasting damage a default of the world’s largest debtor nation would cause now and in the future. We’ll be back at this in a few years when the next debt ceiling cap is again under siege.
Michael Toma, Ph.D., is the Fuller E. Callaway professor of economics in the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University in Savannah. He specializes in macroeconomics and regional economics and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He joined Armstrong State University in Savannah in 1997 and continues with Georgia Southern University today. He can be reached at [email protected].