A&M Farms is a Vidalia Onion farm found in “the heart of Vidalia Onion growing country.” They are located in Lyons, Georgia about three hours south of Athens. A&M also has additional farmland in Toombs County, Georgia.
The farm was established in the late 1980’s and originally named M&T Farms. In December of 2020, Aries and Megan Haygood purchased the entire farm from his Father-in-law and partner. Prior to the sale, Aries had been the farm’s General Manager for over ten years. In an interview with Aries, he said that between the families, they had been growing onions for more than thirty years. The farm’s online operations are maintained by Peter Askew.
A Vidalia Onion has a very sweet flavor and is flatley shaped. Their taste is derived from the combination of water, weather, and soil found only in South Georgia; the Vidalia Onion has been cultivated for over eighty years. The growing season is between the months of April through August and grown in only twenty South Georgia counties. These onions are grown from a yellow granex seed variety that has been tested for at least three years in order to guarantee proper standards specific to the Vidalia Onion. Three sizes of the onion are grown: medium size, jumbo size, and colossal size. The widths range from 3 – 4.25 inches wide. The Vidalia Onion is named after the town Vidalia located in South Georgia.
A&M Farms sells Premium Vidalia Onions in bulk and wholesale. Their onion bundle options are between a 5 lb, 10 lb, 25 lb, or 40 lb box. A 5 lb box of onions costs $36.95 including shipping and a 40 lb box of onions costs $109.95 including shipping. A&M ships to forty-eight states via UPS Ground. All of the onion bundles can be found and purchased on their website.
The farm’s website, vidaliaonions.com, holds a wealth of information and is constantly being updated. The website includes the information and history of the Vidalia Onion, nutritional information, storage tips, and recipes. A&M also posts a monthly news blog updating customers about the most recent events around the farm. The website also highlights multiple videos featuring the farm and Aries. Two videos that I enjoyed were done by Georgia Grown and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
When we go to visit A&M Farms, I am most looking forward to touring their packaging facility. In the Georgia Grown video, the facility was shown where the onions are sorted and packaged. The technology in the warehouse appeared relatively new and I’m curious about the process. Aries also mentioned the food safety and health standards that they strictly follow as a company. With an interest in food safety, I’m also looking forward to hearing about the practices that they follow.
