April 13th has been set as the official pack date for the 2026 Vidalia onion season, marking the day growers can begin packing and shipping the world-famous sweet onions to retailers across the country.
“For the 2026 season, growers planted approximately 10,200 acres of Vidalia onions across the production region,” said Omar Cruz, Chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee. “Our farmers work year-round to grow and harvest a crop that meets the high standards consumers expect from the Vidalia name. We are excited to bring another outstanding crop to market.”
Vidalia onion growers rely on generations of agricultural knowledge combined with modern growing practices to produce the crop. Onions are carefully planted, harvested, and cured before being packed and shipped to grocery stores nationwide.
The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 established the official growing region and legally protected the “Vidalia” name, ensuring that only onions grown in this specific area of Georgia can be marketed as Vidalia onions.
Vidalia onions are grown exclusively in a 20-county production region in South Georgia, where the area’s unique soil composition and mild climate create the ideal environment for developing the onions’ signature sweet flavor.
The official pack date is carefully determined each year after close monitoring of weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop maturity to ensure that only onions meeting the industry’s strict quality standards reach the market.
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