 For Release: Immediately
Attention: Food Editor
Contact: Jaime Brannan
(216) 831-8580
jbrannan@benghiat.com
Certified Extra Sweet™ Vidalia® Onions Enter the Spring Produce Spotlight
Seasonal Sweet Flavor Sparks Demand and Profits for Retailers
Collins, GA, March 14, 2006 – In May, produce aisles across the country will welcome the debut of Certified Extra Sweet™ Vidalia® Onions. These sweet onions, which have been grown within specific guidelines and tested for their unique flavors, will be available only from May thru mid-June.
Certified Extra Sweet Vidalia Onions’ unique flavor is attributed to the low flavor intensity and high sweetness levels which can be attained only through very careful cultivation within a specific sweet onion-growing region of the country. Certified Extra Sweet Vidalia Onions have been extensively tested by National Onion Labs and offer the consumer a consistent flavor experience and extreme consumer satisfaction. This spring will be their first-ever seasonal produce debut.
“Vidalia Onions are among the sweetest onions grown in the world and they can only be grown in a specific region of south central Georgia - you won’t find them anywhere else. Of these, only a percentage are able to achieve certified extra sweet status and these alone are designated by National Onion Labs as Certified Extra Sweet™,” said David Burrell, president of National Onion Labs.
According to the Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and Information Center, the geographical limitation on supply is part of the success of Vidalia Onions as a recognized, branded product that can command a price premium in outlets across the country. Because of their potential popularity with consumers and their limited availability, Vidalia onions which have achieved the Certified Extra Sweet flavor status should be prominently displayed in a store’s produce section and, at that time, retail price points may tend to be 30 to 50 percent higher.
With consumer's interest in fresh and healthy ingredients continuing to increase, Certified Extra Sweet Vidalia Onions not only provide flavor – they also provide health-promoting phytochemicals as well as nutrients. Research shows that onions may help guard against many chronic diseases. That’s because onions contain generous amounts of a flavonoid called quercetin. Studies have showed that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In addition, onions contain a variety of naturally occurring chemicals known as organosulfur compounds that have been linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. With only 30 calories per serving, Vidalia onions are sodium, fat and cholesterol free. They provide dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, potassium and other key nutrients.
The growers who participate in National Onion Labs’ Flavor Certification Program take special care to ensure the balance of nutrients in their soils is optimum for the production of the sweetest onion with the best flavor possible. Certificates are tracked from the field to the store shelves to ensure the quality of the onions. For additional product information and recipe ideas visit www.cesonions.com/recipes.
About Certified Extra Sweet™ Vidalia Onions
A Certified Extra Sweet™ Vidalia® Onion is a Vidalia Onion which has been tested by National Onion Labs, Inc. for the flavor characteristics that consumers expect from an extra mild, extra sweet Onion. A Certified Extra Sweet Vidalia Onion comes from fields with a pungency level less than 3.5 on the National Onion Labs Sweetometer™ scale. Four progressive growers, Cowart Farms, Stanley Farms, G&R Farms and M&T Farms, have entered their fields in the Flavor Certification program of National Onion Labs, Inc. Grower contact information is available at www.cesonions.com.
About National Onion Labs, Inc.
National Onion Labs, Inc. was formed in 1998 to assess sweet onion flavor for consumer satisfaction. Onions, which pass extensive National Onion Lab tests, can achieve Certified Sweet™ or Certified Extra Sweet™ flavor certifications and are available from leading national and international growers, marketers and grocers. For more information, please visit www.onionlabs.com.
Vidalia® is a registered trademark of the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Certified Sweet™ and Certified Extra Sweet™ are trademarks of National Onion Labs, Inc.
Recipe and food photography courtesy of Vidalia® Onion Committee.
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NOL101PR06
Caption: “Sweet Vidalia Onion Panzanella”
For more information and full recipes, please visit www.cesonions.com.
Editors Note: Complete recipes and photos are available by request.
Please contact Jaime Brannan at 216-831-8580 or jbrannan@benghiat.com.
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