10 Things You Didn’t Know About Vidalia Onions (2024)

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What are some fun facts about Vidalia Onions? ›

Vidalias are grown from the seed of a short-day yellow granex onion that was actually discovered in Texas. But it's the low sulfur in Georgia's sandy soil that is said to give the onions grown there a distinctive sweetness. The region's climate is also an integral part of the Vidalia onion's success.

The Vidalias are named after the town they are grown in, Vidalia, Georgia. The sweet flavor is due to the low amount of sulfur in the soil in which the onions are grown. It can be called a Vidalia only if it's grown in one of 20 counties designated by the the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986.

A Vidalia onion is a type of sweet onion. It has a mild flavor, a uniquely flat shape, and a relatively high sugar content. The soil in Vidalia, Georgia has an unusually low amount of sulfur — that's why this variety is more sweet than sharp. It doesn't have the pungent, intensely acidic flavor of other onions.

Sweet Onions

Vidalia, Walla Walla, Bermuda—turns out that these are all different kinds of sweet onion. These guys tend to be a little larger and flatter than other varieties, and also sweeter (duh).

Want Vidalia Onions delivered to your door? The thirteen counties include: Toombs (where we're located), Tattnall, Treutlen, Bacon, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Appling, Jeff Davis, Wheeler, Telfair, Montgomery, & Emanuel. And the portions of these seven counties: Laurens, Screven, Jenkins, Wayne, Dodge, Long, & Pierce.

Substitutes for Vidalia Onions

There are many other types of sweet onions available, including Walla-Walla (after the city in Washington State) and Texas Sweets, and these can easily be used in any recipe calling for Vidalia Onions.

Arguably Georgia's most famous agricultural product, the sweet Vidalia Onion has its roots deep in Tattnall County's soil with more than half the annual crop coming from our county and the nation's largest grower, packer and shipper of sweet onions headquartered in Glennville.

Vidalia Onion Storage & Prep Tips

Wrap sweet onions separately in paper towels or newspaper and store in the refrigerator. Store sweet onions in the legs of clean, sheer pantyhose by tying a knot between each onion and hanging the hose in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.

Because it is not as pungent in flavor, the Vidalia onion is a great nutrient-dense food to incorporate into the diets of both adults and kids alike. Onions are packed with antioxidants! Vitamin C supports the immune system by decreasing inflammation and fighting off free radicals that harm immune function.

The Vidalia Onion is certainly unique in all the world. The sugar content of this onion is comparable to that of an apple, or a bottle of cola. It's a mild, succulent onion that is delicious raw on hamburgers, sliced alongside your steak, in a garden salad, or just eaten raw.

What is the world's sweetest onion? ›

Vidalia Onions: Vidalia onions are a specific type of sweet onion grown in the Vidalia region of Georgia, USA. These onions are known for their exceptionally sweet and mild flavor, attributed to the low sulfur content in the soil and unique growing conditions of the Vidalia area.

In 1997, the House of Representatives officially commemorated the Texas 1015. “The 75th Legislature of the State of Texas,” the House resolution announced, “designates the Texas sweet onion as the Official State Vegetable of Texas and recognizes the historic and cultural significance of this native herb.”

Onions grow in over 20 states and California, Oregon and Washington are the top producing states. Onions contain fiber and vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. Onions are part of the allium family with scallions and leeks. When onions are cut, a compound is released and turns to sulfuric acid in the air.

The key to preserving Vidalias is to keep them cool, dry, and separated. When stored properly, our Vidalias can last as long as 1-2 months on the counter, or 3-6 months when placed into refrigerator veggie bin (mentioned below).

Vidalias are “short day” onions, or onion plants that grow during the months of fewer daylight hours. A Vidalia plant after around 30 days of growth is slightly smaller than a pencil. A full-size onion bulb can reach the size of a softball.