The price of one of Georgia’s most popular crops will almost
certainly be higher next year, says a University of Georgia
economist. Vidalia onion farmers planted 2,000 fewer acres this
year than last.

“Vidalia farmers had 2,000 acres that weren’t harvested
last year because they couldn’t run them through the marketing
system,” said Bill Thomas, an economist with the UGA College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “They just didn’t have a
market for them.”

This year they cut back to compensate.

“Part of it is that the Georgia Department of Agriculture
limited some of the early varieties that weren’t as high
quality,” he said. “The later varieties had higher quality.”

While the price might be higher than at times last year,
Thomas thinks the acreage cutback will make for a more stable
market price.

“Hopefully, it will help maintain a steadier price at the
grocery store,” he said. “The growers also hope that by cutting
out the early varieties, harvest will come off just a little bit
later this year.

“Last year there was an overlap with the Texas Sweet
onion harvest,” he said. “This should eliminate the confusion.
Shoppers will know they’re getting true Vidalias, not those Texas
onions.”