Vidalia Onions & Braves Closer Will Smith: World Champions & Georgia Grown

Bland Farms, the leading marketer of world-famous Vidalia onions, has partnered with another World Champion, Will Smith of the Atlanta Braves, for a marketing campaign celebrating the opening of Vidalia onion season on April 12th. Both the Vidalia onions, also known as the Official State Vegetable of Georgia, and Braves’ pitcher Smith, from Newnan, are Georgia Grown prodigies.

“I live on a farm south of Atlanta, and I’ve always had an appreciation for Georgia’s agriculture, so helping promote Vidalia onions and Bland Farms is truly special,” said Smith. As a reminder, the last time anyone saw Will Smith pitch, he was recording the final out in the 2021 World Series won by the Braves. In fact, Smith did not allow a run during the entire World Series where he served as the Braves’ closer for each victory.

With the Vidalia onion season officially starting in April, a tie-in with baseball is a natural. “We have always liked the association with our Vidalia onions ‘Opening Day’ and the beginning of the baseball season, and so what better time to celebrate this than after the Braves just won the World Series,” said Delbert Bland, Owner & President of Bland Farms. “Plus, we discovered that Will Smith is truly a product of Georgia who was born in Georgia, went to high school in Georgia, plays for the Braves, and lives in Georgia now, so that’s our kind of Georgia guy!”

The Vidalia onion marketing campaign will celebrate “World Champion Taste,” and will feature a series of social media giveaways of autographed Will Smith baseballs and game tickets. People should visit the Bland Farms Facebook and Instagram pages starting in April for the giveaways which will take place each Friday starting on April 15th. The campaign will be supported by point-of-sale materials in retail stores featuring Will Smith, in addition to extensive social media and Bland Farms web site support. Among the fun features will be the sequence of Will Smith gripping a Vidalia onion and showing everyone how he grips his fastball, slider and curveball on a Vidalia onion!

Vidalia onions from Bland Farms are sold nationwide. Bland Farms started selling Vidalia onions in 1982.  For more information, visit www.blandfarms.com.