Vidalia onions
Sweet Georgia onions mild enough to eat raw off a burger.
Also called Vidalias, Vidalia sweet onions.
Updated September 24, 2026
Vidalia onions pronunciation
/vuh-DAYL-yuh UN-yunz/
Meaning
Vidalia onions are the famous sweet onions from a defined patch of southeast Georgia. Southern cooks treat them like a seasonal prize: sliced thick on a hamburger, baked whole, or chopped into salad without the usual burn. Real Vidalias only come from that sandy, low-sulfur soil belt. Everything else is just trying to sound fancy.
How folks use it
- “Grab a sack of Vidalia onions while they're in season.”
- “These Vidalia onions are sweet enough you can eat them like an apple.”
Origin and etymology
In 1931 Toombs County farmer Mose Coleman grew onions that came out mild instead of hot, thanks to the region's soil and climate. Travelers and Piggly Wiggly stores spread the name from the nearby town of Vidalia. Georgia locked the name to a set growing area in 1986, and federal protection followed in 1989. They became Georgia's official state vegetable in 1990.
Frequently asked questions
Can any sweet onion be called a Vidalia?
No. By law, only onions grown in the official Georgia counties can use the name.