Cliff Riner, former coordinator of the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center, has been named crop production manager at G&R Farms in Glennville, GA.
In his previous position, Cliff served for more than a decade with the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service and as area extension agent for the entire Vidalia onion region.
Well known in the Vidalia onion industry for his research in the mechanization of onion planting, variety selection, and evaluation as well as onion flavor and pest control, Cliff was instrumental in establishing the University of Georgia’s Crop Quality Laboratory. The lab evaluates sweet onion pungency and provides extensive research on sweet onion flavors through seed variety and soil analysis.
“We are excited to have Cliff as a member of our management team,” commented Walt Dasher, co-owner of G&R Farms. “He has built a strong relationship with many major onion seed companies and was directly involved in the selection and development of all the recent seed varieties within the Vidalia Onion industry.”
Dasher added, “During his tenure with the Vidalia Onion Research Center, Cliff gained invaluable experience in data collection, new seed trials and the study of various fertilizer and chemical applications. He will be a great addition to our farming operation as we continue to stay ahead of the curve with the latest growing practices and new seed varieties that meet our high-quality standards.”
