Vidalia Onions is my concern, which is shared by its growers — low quality product.

This concern was paramount to the state of Georgia, the federal trademark owner. The Georgia legislature outlined rules for then permitted growers, in 13 counties in central Georgia and certain areas of 7 additional counties. These rules gave growers sufficient parameters to ensure quality.

These rules has worked well since 1987 — but in 2013 on August 28, 2013, commissioner Black was asked to set a date by some growers which was intended to protect against shipping immature onions.The rule change sets a pre-determined date: No onion may be packed or sold before 12:01 a.m. on the Monday of the last full week of April.

Opinions on the rule change is mixed. Mr. Delbert Bland, Georgia’s biggest grower (with 1,000 acres of Vidalias), says weather determines when you can harvest, not pre-determined shipping rules.

This week I charged into the grocery store for my Vidalia onions. Disappointed by the quality, I found mal-shaped onions with rot spots, which are evidence of immature onions.

Commissioner Black, today is May 5, 2018. I further researched and found where the rule, which some growers with your support, had been upheld by the Georgia court of appeals, dated 4/25/16. Further, Mr. Bland, Glennville, Ga. has filed a legal challenge to Commissioner Black’s amended shipping rule establishing a fixed date. Common sense should over-rule a pre-set date to allow shipping. Suggestion: solicit USDA inspection.

Today I returned the immature Vidalia onions. The return clerk asked for a bar code. I had discarded the receipt. She suggested that I trek over to produce and produce a bar code, in order to refund the purchase price. To my surprise the onions were grown by Bland, the gentleman who disagrees with a set date, in favor of the growers deciding when the onion crop is ready for marketing. While in the produce area “Bland” onions were the only offering of Vidalia onions. Inspecting each bag I found all to be in violation of legislative intent upholding the superior quality expected.

Tom Rogers

Moultrie