Cooperative
Extension Service
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
George
Boyhan, Extension Horticulturist-Vegetables
East Georgia Extension Center
Rosenwald Building, Third Floor
PO Box 8112
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
912-681-5639 | 912-681-0376, Fax | 912-682-3481,
mobile
The Georgia Department of Agriculture -- in its continued efforts to limit Vidalia onion varieties -- has requested that growers supply proof that the varieties they are growing are consistent with current rules. The current rules state that Vidalia onions must be a Granex hybrid, have Granex parentage, or be of a similar type. Growers are required to register to be a certified Vidalia grower by March 1 in the year they will be selling their onions. The Department of Agriculture is requiring proof with this application.
The Department of Agriculture was not very specific as to what would be acceptable. At first, it appeared that the variety pedigree would be required from the seed company as proof. Seed companies, as expected, balked at this requirement. They consider such information proprietary and were reluctant to share it. It was also pointed out that such information would be meaningless, since most such information consists of internal numbering information that would be of little or no use to those outside the company. Dean Buchanan pointed out in a meeting with Commissioner Irving that the university would not be able to verify this information, so the requirement was dropped.
As of this writing, growers were still expected to submit an affidavit from the seed companies with their applications, indicating that the varieties they will have this spring meet the criteria for a Vidalia onion.
This past year's Alliums 2000 meeting in Athens had an interesting section on the health benefits of alliums. I'm sure you have heard Larry King on television espousing the value of taking garlic pills for his overall cardiovascular health.
Many studies have shown that allium intake reduces the risk of certain types of cancer. Garlic, for example, has been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The cardiovascular effects of allium are attributed to their anti-platelet formation, which reduces the risk of heart attack. Garlic and onion both have been shown to lower blood sugar, which is important for diabetics. It has also been shown that oils from garlic and onions lower serum lipid and cholesterol levels.
Study in this area continues on several fronts with researchers investigating the mechanisms of these health effects. Investigations of environmental effects on the development of these health compounds in alliums are also on-going. Finally, researchers are attempting to breed garlic and onions with enhanced levels of these compounds.
The Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center is planning its annual field day for April 12, 2001, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a sponsored meal at noon followed by a visit to the various experiments. Please make plans to come to this field day, and encourage your growers to come as well. For more information, call me or Randy Hill, the VOVRC superintendent. Randy's cell phone number is 912-282-4453. See you April 12.
From My Desk Since the Department of Agriculture is still going to require the university to make Vidalia onion recommendations, we continue to fine-tune the criteria for onion variety recommendations. The original recommendations -- which include color, shape, pungency and flavor -- will continue to be the criteria for variety selection. These criteria will be fine-tuned between now and spring harvest.
Talk to you next month.
[The health benefits of alliums are from the publication of abstracts from the Alliums 2000 conference.]