Mark Shuman, Buck Shuman and John Shuman.The Vidalia Onion Committee hosted its annual awards banquet Feb.

Though Bland Farms LLC has become an international giant in the sweet onion industry, the empire was built on Vidalia onions and they remain at the top of the pecking order at the company’s Glennville, GA, headquarters.

Bland is the world’s largest grower-shipper of Vidalia onions and has a 12-month sweet onion program with farms around the world. But owner Delbert Bland is planning for even bigger and better things.

Well-Pict Inc., headquartered in Watsonville, CA, has strawberry production in several California districts as well as in Baja California, Mexico, and in each location it grows proprietary varieties from its own breeding programs, which are selected to give the best results and the best possible flavor and eating experience from that particular district, according to Sales Manager Dan Crowley.

Belle Glade, FL-based S.M. Jones & Co., a year-round supplier of fresh sweet corn, welcomed MICHAEL BAST to its sales team on Jan. 2.

In his new role as sales account manager, Mr. Bast manages and maintains relationships with retail and wholesale market accounts. Prior to joining S.M. Jones, Mr. Bast worked for Duda Farm Fresh Foods for four years.

Ocean Mist Farms announced changes to its marketing department with the promotion of one employee and the addition of another to the team.

VIDALIA, GA — Drenching rains that soaked most of the South Georgia Vidalia onion-producing area dumped 14-17 inches of water on the 2013 crop in the last two weeks of February. But what could have been disaster turned into a positive when strong winds followed the rains and dried the crop heading into what now appears to be a promising market.