The Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) announced today that its long-time Manager, Bob Stafford, has officially retired. His last day as the Executive Director of the Vidalia Onion Committee (Committee) was January 1, 2023, after working with the Vidalia Onion Committee and the Vidalia Onion Business Council for 29 years. The Committee will now be looking to fill his position with a new Executive Director.
In 1994, Stafford was brought onto the Vidalia Onion Committee as a Compliance Officer to assist the development of a compliance plan. He then went on to work side-by-side with VOC members for audits, along with product labeling and other rules and regulations to maintain the strength of the Vidalia onion trademark. In his time conducting audits, Stafford saw the needs of each farmer and knew he had experience to address and provide support for them in his role on the Committee. Stafford also spent much of his time keeping a good rapport with consumers, often engaging with them directly on their experiences with Vidalia onions. He was selected to manage the VOC in 2017.
In his 29 years on the VOC, Stafford has achieved numerous accomplishments. In 2009, he was elected to the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame, an award granted by the Committee to honor individual leaders for their character and contributions to the growth and success of Vidalia onions. He also spearheaded efforts to distinguish which farm each Vidalia onion comes from on the label. Stafford also worked to implement the royalty fee for including Vidalia onions in processed foods, ensuring funds are utilized for Vidalia onion trademark protection and promotion.
“Over the course of my career working with the Committee, my fondest of times have been with the Vidalia onion growers,” said Stafford. “I joined the VOC in 1994, working under a 10-day timeframe on the compliance plan, and 29 years later, I’m finishing up with them now. I’ve been very proud to have a hand in the Vidalia onion…
Read the full article here
