Vidalia~(R) celebrates 20 years, recognizes today's industry leaders and yesterday's pioneers

摘要

VIDALIA, Ga. — The Vidalia~(R) Onion Committee (VOC) is celebrating 20 years of state and federal crop protection. In 1989, farmers united to enact a Federal Marketing Order (FMO) for Vidalias. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program established the VOC and extended the definition of a Vidalia~(R) onion, passed by the Georgia legislature in 1986, to the federal level. The FMO also provided producers a means to jointly fund research and promotional programs, which still actively benefits the industry 20 years later. The Vidalia~(R) onion was named Georgia's "Official State Vegetable" in 1990.