G&R Farms Launches Growing America’s Farmers 2025 Retail Promotions Program

G&R Farms has launched its 2025 Growing America’s Farmers (GAF) program, featuring in-store Vidalia promotions to support the next generation of agricultural leaders. GAF raises funds for grants and scholarships benefiting students pursuing careers in production agriculture.

USDA reports the average age of US farmers is nearly 58 years old, and only 1.5 percent of the population is farmers and ranchers, highlighting an increase in the average age, coupled with a decrease in workforce. This creates significant labor shortages that challenge the sustainability of farming operations nationwide. The GAF program aims to help alleviate that strain.

Now entering its tenth year, the GAF program was developed by G&R Farms, a third-generation family farm rooted in southeast Georgia. The mission: invest in the future of farming by supporting FFA students and helping them achieve their educational goals. To date, the program has raised nearly $450,000 for the National FFA and State FFA Foundations across more than a dozen states.

“We started Growing America’s Farmers with a simple belief—that by investing in today’s students, we’re planting the seeds for a stronger, more resilient agricultural future,” shared Blake Dasher, CEO of G&R Farms. “These young leaders will tackle tomorrow’s challenges, and  it’s our responsibility to help pave the way.”

This year’s program includes a fresh new look for all in-store materials, including redesigned full-size and secondary display bins, bags and POS, offering a high-visibility platform to share the program’s mission with shoppers while elevating product presence.

For participating retailers, G&R Farms dedicates a portion of proceeds from specially marked produce items to be donated to the National FFA Foundation, that are then disbursed to the states where the product is sold. These funds directly impact young agriculturalists who represent the future of America’s food supply.

Melissa’s Produce returns as a proud partner in 2025, continuing their commitment to agricultural education and youth development. Also demonstrating their commitment to the future of our food supply are nine regional and national retail chains confirmed so far.

“This campaign is about more than sweet onions—it’s about investing in the lives and futures of the students who will carry agriculture forward,” Dasher added. “By working with our retail partners, we’re showing these young farmers that their goals are important and their future matters.”

While many promotions coincide with Vidalia sweet onion season, G&R Farms has been a year-round sweet onion supplier for more than 15 years. With farms and experts on the ground in Peru during Vidalia’s off season, Growing America’s Farmers promotions can run anytime, year-round.

As G&R Farms celebrates its 80th year in 2025, the milestone is more than a celebration of longevity – it’s a testament to G&R’s deep-rooted dedication to the agricultural industry, the sweet onion category and the future of our nation’s food supply. Sights are set high, aiming to beat last year’s program donations through the Growing America’s Farmers program.

To learn more about Growing America’s Farmers or to become a participating retailer, click here.