The Future of Onions
From summer grilling to backyard gardens—onions and warmer weather go together. Raw onions are rich in potassium and other nutrients that support hydration in hot weather. The TX1015 sweet onion season is going strong. TX1015 Sweet Onions are known for their mild sweetness, versatility, and Texas-grown heritage. From produce displays to recipe inspiration and point-of-sale materials—retailers are utilizing merchandising to keep the sweet onion on consumers’ minds and shopping lists during peak grilling season.
Dante Galeazzi, President of the Texas International Produce Association, expanded on the importance of retail presence: “Merchandising plays an important role in helping shoppers reconnect with seasonal produce, and we want buyers to see the TX1015 sweet onion as a product that can drive excitement and engagement throughout the season.”
He continued, “Our season lines up perfectly with summer grilling and outdoor entertaining, which creates strong opportunities for retailers to feature TX1015 Sweet Onions in seasonal promotions and meal inspiration. From burgers and fajitas to salads and cookouts, sweet onions are a natural fit for summer meal planning.”
With retailers embracing onions for the summer season, John Shuman, President and CEO of Shuman Farms, is ready. “Grilling season and summer holidays like Father’s Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day provide great growth opportunities for the onions category. With our Georgia-grown Vidalia onions in season, the sweetest, mildest onion available during the summer months, we expect to see a lift in demand and sales during these holiday periods. We are highlighting versatility and all of the value a bag of Vidalia onions provides to create multiple dishes for family meals and summer gathering occasions.”
Kelsey Weingart, Brand Manager, Marketing at Peri & Sons Farms, would love retailers to put onions front and center all year round. She commented, “It’s all about flavor. That is the conversation we want to have. Onions are often treated as a background ingredient, but when you start with a great onion, everything tastes better. We want retailers to think about the onion in the same way they think about tomatoes or lettuce, with variety, seasonality, and flavor at the center.”
Troy Bland, CEO of Bland Farms, knows the power of name recognition. He reported, “The demand for a mild, sweet onion continues to grow as consumers prioritize ingredients that deliver both premium flavor and culinary versatility. We are currently seeing a ‘flight to quality’ where shoppers remain loyal to brands they trust, regardless of broader market volatility. The Vidalia name carries an inherent value that acts as a category stabilizer during fluctuating economic cycles.”
That sustained demand is also shaping how consumers purchase onions. Bland said, “One of the most significant shifts we have observed is the transition from bulk to bags. Consumers are choosing convenience, and retailers are responding. Over the past five years, our bag business has nearly doubled.”
With consumers spending less, onions are proving tougher than the economy. Farms are also reaching consumers in unique ways. “We are emphasizing reaching consumers where they scroll, utilizing fresh social media content to inspire consumption and provide meal solutions for busy families. We also strive to educate consumers on sweet onions’ farm-to-table journey and connect them with our third-generation family farm,” revealed Shuman.
Bland commented on the future of the onion category. “What we see coming in the onion category is a much bigger focus on consistency, shelf life, and smarter growing practices. Retailers want dependable quality, and consumers want better flavor and freshness.”
He continued, “At Bland Farms, we’re investing heavily in technology and infrastructure that help us meet those expectations while still protecting the integrity of the product. That includes AI-driven laser weeding technology that allows us to manage weeds with remarkable precision while reducing reliance on herbicides and supporting the growth of our organic programs. We are also focused on what happens after harvest. Our new packing facility includes advanced glycol cooling technology designed to stabilize onions immediately after they come out of the field. That helps us better maintain flavor, quality, and shelf life throughout the supply chain.”
The future for Peri & Sons Farms looks unique. Weingart explained, “We are growing our California Sweet Onion program, and we are particularly excited about a new variety coming to market. It has a flatter profile, it is USA-grown in California, and the flavor and freshness it delivers are something we think will stand out. Sweet onions have loyal fans, and we believe there is a real opportunity to expand that base with the right product and the right story behind it.”
“We see a renewed focus on experience and flavor as big drivers in the produce department overall. In onions, there is an opportunity to educate consumers on usage and which onion is best for every application,” replied Shuman. “Consumers are focused on both eating experience and value, creating a strong opportunity for versatile, flavorful items like sweet onions to continue their growth trajectory.”
As consumers continue to seek flavor, value, and versatility, onions remain a staple ingredient positioned for sustained growth.
Bland Farms is helping retailers think differently about onions. They want to elevate onions from an everyday staple to a year-round category driver with strong merchandising that engages consumers. “For Bland Farms, the core conversations center on supply chain confidence and year-round engagement. We want to move the dialogue with retailers away from onions as a commodity and toward onions as a strategic category driver. We are eager to discuss creative merchandising and cross-promotion opportunities, such as our partnerships with Weber Grills, and our new Retail Toolkit, which provides ready-to-use digital assets for ads, social media, and education,” said Bland.
He added, “We are also focused on how innovation supports the future of stewardship. We believe the category can evolve technologically without losing the heritage it was built on. Ultimately, we want to engage in a conversation about utility: providing the modern home cook with the inspiration and the consistent, high-quality ingredients they need for every meal.”
Shuman Farms thinks sweet onions need more branding, innovation and differentiation to stand out and appeal to new customers. “Sweet onions are always top of mind at Shuman Farms. We would like to continue to engage with our retail partners to work together to provide value to their customers through the inherent versatility of sweet onions,” noted Shuman.
Peri & Sons Farms has made a meaningful investment in category data to gain a clear understanding of where gaps and opportunities lie ahead. “We use that data to make smarter decisions about growing and packing and to bring real insight to our retail partners. Educated buyers make better category decisions, so sharing these insights is mutually beneficial. The retailers who lean into that conversation are the ones winning in the onion set,” explained Weingart.
Bland Farms has also been digging into data and revealed, “Our research indicates that the ‘convenience paradox’ is the primary driver of current retail trends. While shoppers value the heritage of the Vidalia brand, their purchasing habits have shifted toward traceable, packaged solutions.”
“We are also monitoring a surge in consumer demand for transparency. Shoppers are increasingly tracking the official pack date as a major culinary event, much like a limited-edition product release. This influences a trajectory toward high-velocity, seasonal marketing. Furthermore, the growth of the organic sector reinforces our decision to invest in precision agriculture. Tools like our laser weeders, which use thermal energy to eliminate weeds with sub-millimeter precision, are a direct response to the consumer’s mandate for a reduced chemical footprint and a transparent food supply,” reported Bland.
Looking ahead, leading onion suppliers are focused on building operations that are more efficient, sustainable and resilient. For many farms, that means making long-term investments today that will help strengthen category leadership in the years ahead. Weingart summarized, “Peri & Sons is a family farm, and that means we think in generations, not quarters. We have a strong succession plan in place and are actively growing into the next chapter of this business. Looking ahead, cost efficiency and sustainability will be the biggest drivers of change in this category. Growers who have invested in responsible practices and streamlined operations will be positioned to lead. We have been building towards that for years, so we feel ready for what is coming.”
“Over the next five years, Bland Farms is evolving into a technology-first operation designed to remove as many variables as possible from farming,” revealed Bland. “We recently purchased and upgraded our Vidalia facility, expanding storage and adding advanced cooling and drying technology that improves quality and extends shelf life. By accelerating the post-harvest process and increasing hybrid drying capacity, we’re able to move onions from field to storage faster and more efficiently. This investment strengthens our long-term commitment to innovation, sustainability, and delivering a more consistent product to our customers.”
From sweet onions to green onions, the category continues to prove its value as an essential ingredient that delivers flavor, versatility and affordability across seasons and meals. With suppliers investing in innovation, sustainability, packaging and merchandising, onions are positioned to remain a staple consumers continue to choose and a resilient force in the produce department.
