Vidalia Onion Farmer Sues State Over Crop Shipping Date
A Vidalia onion farmer has taken the State of Georgia to court to be able to ship his crop when he wants to.Broadcast Version
The Georgia Department of Agriculture owns the trademark on Vidalias. Each year, the state’s Agriculture Commissioner advises on a suggested starting date for shipping to ensure the quality of the onions.
But this year Commissioner Gary Black told the growers they all had to wait until April 21 to start shipping their crops.
Delbert Bland, who farms about 3,000 acres of Vidalias each year, took exception to that mandate. “I’m all for doing anything possible to help the integrity of the onion,” said Bland, “but I’m not for a mandatory packing and shipping day to where all the growers have to wait to the same day to ship onions, which is ridiculous.”
So Bland sued the state and won. A Fulton County judge struck down the mandated shipping date.
Bland says he plans to start shipping his onions around the middle of April barring any appeal from the state. The Agriculture Department said late Monday, March 24, that it is appealing the judge’s decision.
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