A real Vidalia onion can only come from 20 counties in south Georgia, set by state law in 1986, and is sold fresh from April through August. Georgia’s other famous crop comes with a surprise: the Peach State ranked third in U.S. peach production in 2014, behind California and South Carolina.
When are Vidalia onions in season?
The Vidalia Onion Committee says Vidalias are hand-planted and harvested and available fresh only a few months each year, from April to August (checked September 17, 2026).
What makes an onion a “Vidalia”?
The law does. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, the Vidalia Onion Act, passed by the Georgia legislature in 1986, defined the twenty counties in which Vidalia onions can be grown, and gave the state Department of Agriculture ownership of the Vidalia name as it applies to onions. It followed years of confusion over what counted as a genuine Vidalia or Glennville sweet onion.
the New Georgia Encyclopedia credits Mose Coleman, a Toombs County farmer, as the one “believed” to have been the first grower, and dates his discovery of mild onions to 1931 — a careful way of saying the origin story is widely told but not fully documented.
Is Georgia really the Peach State?
The nickname is real; the ranking is not. the New Georgia Encyclopedia records that Georgia earned its “Peach State” name in the three decades after the Civil War; in the same era the Georgia State Horticultural Society, founded near Augusta in 1876, promoted new fruit varieties across the state. But in 2014, Georgia ranked third nationally in peach production, behind California and South Carolina. (The old Berckmans Nursery, tied to the society’s leadership, is now the site of Augusta National Golf Club.)
When can you buy Georgia peaches?
Georgia peaches are a summer crop, but no single season start date is published by the growers’ sites we checked — orchards announce their own openings each year, and the old Georgia Peach Council website is no longer active. Check a specific orchard before you drive. Lane Southern Orchards in Fort Valley says its farm and market are open year-round, with other produce once peach season ends.
For Georgia’s fall fruit, see apple picking in North Georgia and the Georgia Apple Festival.
FAQ
When is Vidalia onion season?
The Vidalia Onion Committee lists Vidalia onions as available fresh from April to August.
Where are Vidalia onions grown?
Only in the twenty south Georgia counties defined by the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986. The Georgia Department of Agriculture owns the Vidalia name as it applies to onions.
Who grew the first Vidalia onion?
Mose Coleman, a Toombs County farmer, is believed to have been the first grower; he found in 1931 that his onions were mild rather than hot, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Is Georgia the biggest peach producer in the U.S.?
No. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, Georgia ranked third in peach production in 2014, behind California and South Carolina, despite its Peach State nickname.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Vidalia Onion Committee — Seasonally Sweet
- New Georgia Encyclopedia — Vidalia Onions
- New Georgia Encyclopedia — Peaches
- Lane Southern Orchards
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
