A number of shippers in Idaho-E. Oregon Onion Committee will be taking part in the first-ever Virtual VIP Tour produced by the Committee and slated to run the second half of October.
Featuring the participating sheds with customized video and downloadable PDF info sheets on individual landing pages hosted on www.USAOnions.com, the tour will be open to buyers who complete online application forms on the website and are then approved by the shippers.
Each video will be customized to the individual shipper, focusing on specific aspects of the company that can include harvest, packing and storage. The sheds can also choose to run on-camera interviews with individuals and groups.
Like other industry virtual events, the VIP Tour was brought about by the in-person social restrictions of COVID-19, but as Idaho-E. Oregon Onion Promotion Committee Chairman Herb Haun said, this format could be something that the Committee chooses to continue.
He said that for at least 15 years the Committee had hosted in-person tours that had always been well-attended and a season highlight. But a reduction in Promotion Committee Funding ended the VIP Tours, and the video concept has breathed new life into the event at a reduced cost.
“They’re cost-effective and a great opportunity for more buyers to work with more shippers,” Haun said. He added that video is a different way to connect socially, but he noted that it “could well be that virtual events are here to stay.”
Featured image: 2009 IEOOC VIP Tour, courtesy of Idaho E. Oregon Onion Committee
