Sandra Bland
Director
Sandra Bland is the President of Vidalia Brands, Inc., a certified Women’s Owned Business, and Director of Marketing of Bland Farms, a grower, packer and shipper of sweet onions and sweet potatoes. Sandra has played an instrumental role in popularizing the renowned Vidalia® Sweet Onion. Her contribution to the industry goes beyond the spotlight, and her legacy is etched in the history of Vidalia Sweet Onion farming.
Sandra’s innovative spirit was evident when she became the trailblazer in incorporating Bland Farms’ Vidalia Sweet Onions into processed foods, expanding the Vidalia name to markets west of the Mississippi River. Her mail order business in the 1980s was nothing short of visionary, as she managed an impressive five million-person mailing list, setting the stage for Vidalia’s household recognition today.
Sandra’s dedication to promoting the brand continues as President of Vidalia Brands, which aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability by using all of the crop to avoid any food waste. Onions and sweet potatoes not sent directly to stores are often diced and used for her Vidalia Brands Products or sold to industrial customers as ingredients.
Prior to her involvement with Bland Farms, Sandra Bland’s journey was marked by significant achievements and contributions in healthcare. A graduate of Pinewood Christian Academy and College of Coastal Georgia, where she received her nursing degree, Sandra started her career at Southeast Georgia Health Care Pediatrics and went on to become the Georgia Home Health Care Director of Nursing.
Sandra is an active member of Southern Roots Women in Produce, a program designed to make meaningful connections among women working in the produce industry through events, education, and mentoring. She serves on the Frederica Academy Visitors Board, is a member of Pineview Baptist Church, and attends St. Simons Community Church, embodying her commitment to faith and community. Sandra’s philanthropic endeavors extend to the University of Georgia, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Her passion for nursing is still evident as she acts as a facilitator, coordinating medical, financial, travel, and boarding assistance for employees and friends facing hard medical diagnoses.
Sandra and her husband, Delbert, reside in St. Simons Island. They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.
