Herschel Durrence of MHD & Son Farms in Tattnall County, Georgia, was named the Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) 2025 Grower of the Year at the annual banquet held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Dahlia Event Center in Vidalia, Georgia.
The Vidalia Onion Committee awards an annual “Grower of the Year.” This award is to recognize overall success as a producer of Vidalia onions. The emphasis of this award is on quality, production, and ability to work within the confines of the Marketing Order.
The requirements include: a registered Vidalia onion grower; submission of reports and payments to the Committee in a timely manner; none or few consumer complaints; conforming to the standards set forth in Federal Marketing Order #955; and enhances and supports the brand recognition of Vidalia onions.
The three candidates in the running for this annual award were from Tattnall County. They included Ben Hilliard and Bland Farms along with Herschel Durrence. The Growers and Packers who are members of the Vidalia Onion Committee vote for one of their own each year to receive this award.
Herschel grew up surrounded by farming in Mendes, Georgia. His dad, Merriell Durrence, along with his uncle, Mike, farmed tobacco, peanuts, cotton, corn, and pecans. His dad still farms row crops, and he and his uncle still take care of their pecan orchards. They tried some onions a few years in the late 80s with Robert and Gerald Dasher but decided it wasn’t for them. They both decided they would stick to row crops. His mom, Danna, grew some produce for a number of years and sold it locally around Mendes. His mom and his Aunt Faye Durrence were the farm help to his dad and uncle. They were both also the bookkeepers and the “run to town and pick up this” help. His grandfather, Herschel, was also a lifelong farmer. His family farms the same dirt in Mendes he farmed for many years. Farming is in his blood, and he enjoys what he does tremendously.
Herschel decided to add onions to his operation in 2014 with 50 acres. It was a great experience, and every year since, he has added acres, and for the 2025 onion season, he has 250 acres planted. He grows his own onion plants and also helps other producers with their onion beds. Onions are now the main focus of his operation, as he works closely with some other producers to grow onion beds and, subsequently, an onion crop every year. While many things come into play in getting an onion crop carried to harvest, he enjoys planting those tiny seeds and transplanting them and watching them transform every single year.
In 2022, he joined forces with Michael Cutler and bought into a facility previously owned by Red Sky Ag, located in Evans County Industrial Park, and they formed MMH Packing LLC. Michael Cutler has long been a name associated with this industry, and Herschel is proud to work closely with him and his team. They have a team of producers who trust them with the packing and shipping of their onions every year. During the 2024 onion season, their facility moved 31 million pounds through its almost 47,000 square feet. This facility is run by a husband and wife team, Steve and Heather Kinlaw. They are a huge asset to this facility. The facility is currently undergoing some renovations for the 2025 onion season, adding coolers and drying rooms.
Herschel’s wife, Jayla, teaches K5 at Pinewood Christian Academy, although her most challenging job is keeping their home and family on track. Without her undying love, support, and amazing patience, none of this would be possible, says Herschel. She endures the late nights and the early mornings and keeps them all where they are supposed to be. They have four children who all help with the farming operation. Hayleigh, 13, and Kennedy, 11, both help out in the office on school breaks, and, during the summer, they are excellent help when watermelon season begins. Brooklyn is five years old, and Dyess is seven years old, and he already thinks he is the boss and set to take over the operation one day.
Herschel extends thanks to the Vidalia Onion Committee for this prestigious award.
“God has blessed me with an amazing wife and family and a job I enjoy tremendously,” said Herschel.
MHD & Son Farms was also a Sponsor for the 2024 Glennville Sweet Onion Festival. He was a co-sponsor for the Kids’ area for the Glennville Chamber of Commerce.
“We look forward to working with Herschel again this year and in the future,” said Donna Blocker, a member of the Board of Directors of the Glennville Chamber of Commerce.
